Well this is a bit of a surprise. The University of Washington isn’t exactly known as a moderate, or even partially America loving college.. Yet Hasan Piker is apparently so toxic, that they canceled his speech that was set for January of 2027.
A University of Washington lecture featuring progressive Twitch commentator Hasan Piker is off, with school officials citing a flawed planning process as the reason for the cancellation.
Piker, a far-left streamer and YouTube personality, was set to appear in January as part of the school’s 2026-27 Speaker Series, the university said in a statement.
However, following “a review of the process by which the event was planned,” the university canceled the event.
“Going forward, procedures will be updated to ensure the standards we have for University-hosted events like the Speaker Series are met, particularly so that we can help elevate the level of dialogue on divisive topics during a polarized time in our country,” it added.
The university’s cancellation of Piker, who previously said America “deserved 9/11” before later calling the remark “inappropriate,” has prompted criticism from First Amendment advocates, with the nonprofit civil liberties group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) condemning the move.
“If the decision was based on process — and not public backlash or criticism — @UW should be transparent about what standards were not met and how they were applied,” the organization said in an X post.