A Twitch streamer has issued an apology after going viral for crashing a rented car into a group of people while on a trip to Japan.
On October 5, Italian streamer Giulia ‘StudyTme’ Mazza was broadcasting from a car meet in Japan when she was moving her Toyota MR2 and hit a group of people nearby, slamming into their cars.
The footage went viral, with users concerned about the state of streaming in Japan and the rise of incidents committed by tourists.
After days without going live, despite not being banned by Twitch, on October 9, StudyTme broke her silence and revealed what happened after the crash, explaining that the police got involved.
Twitch streamer admits driving without proper license when she crashed
In a statement posted to X, StudyTme said she wanted to address the situation sooner, but was unable to because she was in police custody without access to her phone.
According to the streamer, while she has an Italian driver’s license, she was unable to legally drive in the country because she doesn’t have an international driving permit, so her friend was doing the driving in the rental car.
“The only moment I touched the wheel was inside a parking lot. I was already sitting in the driver’s seat and wanted to move the car forward by a couple of meters to give space to others. It was a small gesture meant to be helpful, but it was a mistake,” she said.
“I have since learned that in Japan, even moving a car without a license is considered driving without a license, which is a criminal offense in the country. After the incident, I immediately apologized to the owners of all cars involved, ensured everyone was safe and no one was injured.”
Italian streamer says Japanese police released her “without penalty” after crashing car
She explained that the police were called and she was taken into custody, where she spent 35 hours in detention before being released.
Mazza said the prosecutor acknowledged she didn’t intend to break the law and that she was under the impression she could move the car inside the parking lot.
“I was released without any fine or penalty and the authorities recognized that I acted in good faith,” she added.
Despite the viral incident, the Twitch creator praised the Japanese community for showing her love instead of hate. She also apologized to the authorities, the Japanese people, and her friends who had been worried.
“This incident goes against everything I believe in, and I will keep reflecting on it to make sure I never make a mistake like this again. I’m already in contact with the car owners to make things right, and I will keep cooperating fully. I am remaining in Japan until this situation is resolved.”
This incident comes as some Japanese citizens have grown increasingly fed up with the antics of streamers in their country.
Earlier this year, Kick streamer Ice Poseidon found himself on a ‘wanted list’ of broadcasters, including Johnny Somali, created by Japanese citizens during his stay in the country.
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