Ninja (gamer)#Low Taper Fade

Richard Tyler Blevins{{Cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Ingrid |date=2024-04-06 |title=Twitch Streamer Ninja Reveals He's Officially Cancer-Free: 'Thank You for All the Prayers' |url=https://people.com/twitch-streamer-ninja-officially-skin-cancer-free-8627718 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Longmire |first=Becca |date=2024-03-27 |title=Ninja, Twitch's Top Video Game Streamer, Reveals He Has Been Diagnosed with Skin Cancer at 32 |url=https://people.com/youtuber-ninja-skin-cancer-diagnosis-melanoma-8620920 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}} was born in the Metro Detroit area and is of Welsh descent.{{Cite web |title=H3 Podcast #63 - Ninja |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s12qaVEyW14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827114912/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s12qaVEyW14 |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |access-date=August 15, 2018 |website=H3 Podcast | date=April 23, 2018 |via=YouTube}} He has two older brothers, Jonathan and Chris. He moved with his family to the Chicago suburbs when he was just an infant, where he went on to attend Grayslake Central High School.{{Cite web |last=Teng |first=Elaine |date=September 18, 2018 |title=Living the Stream |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/24710688/fortnite-legend-ninja-living-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918150353/http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/24710688/fortnite-legend-ninja-living-stream |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |access-date=September 18, 2018 |website=ESPN The Magazine}} Upon graduation, he decided to play video games professionally, entering tournaments, joining professional organizations, and live streaming his games.{{Cite news |last=Keilman |first=John |date=August 2, 2018 |title=He's got celebrity pals, millions of fans and (probably) millions of dollars: Meet Ninja, Chicago's 'Fortnite' superstar |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-ninja-fortnite-video-games-20180801-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805125008/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-ninja-fortnite-video-games-20180801-story.html |archive-date=August 5, 2018}}

Blevins began playing Halo 3 professionally in 2009.{{Cite web |last=Montag |first=Ali |date=March 20, 2018 |title=How this 26-year-old went from working at a fast food joint to making $500,000 a month playing video games |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/tyler-ninja-blevins-from-working-at-noodles-co-to-twitch-gamer.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225212/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/20/tyler-ninja-blevins-from-working-at-noodles-co-to-twitch-gamer.html |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |access-date=July 20, 2018 |website=CNBC}} He played for various organizations including Cloud9, Renegades, Team Liquid, and most recently, Luminosity Gaming.{{Cite tweet|number=820099278853013505|user=Luminosity|title=🚨NEWS: LG Halo roster changes for 2017! Welcome back @VictoryCJT @eLToWnFPS and @Ninja_TB @TriPPPeY! Read More: http://bit.ly/2j9QMjL|access-date=2024-05-08|url-status=live}} Blevins became a streamer in 2011. He began playing H1Z1, then moved to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. He joined Luminosity Gaming in 2017 first as a Halo player, then to H1Z1, later moving to PUBG, where he won the PUBG Gamescom Invitational Squads classification in August 2017.{{Citation|title=Tyler "Ninja" Blevins Teaches Jimmy the Pon Pon Dance| date=December 18, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8ia3DYB2E|language=en|access-date=2021-04-08}}

Blevins began streaming the newly released Fortnite Battle Royale shortly after the PUBG Gamescom Invitational. His viewership began to grow, which coincided with the game's growth in popularity over the late 2017/early 2018 period.{{Cite web |last=Leslie, Callum |date=March 16, 2018 |title=How much money does Ninja make? |url=https://dotesports.com/culture/news/how-much-money-does-ninja-make-21954#list-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318065124/https://dotesports.com/culture/news/how-much-money-does-ninja-make-21954#list-1 |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2018 |website=Dot Esports}} His followers on Twitch had grown from 500,000 in September 2017 to over 2 million by March 2018.{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Dylan B. |date=February 27, 2018 |title=What the Hell Happened: Ninja's Twitch Takeover |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/2/27/ninja-twitch-takeover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320110408/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/2/27/ninja-twitch-takeover/ |archive-date=March 20, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2018 |work=The Harvard Crimson}}

In March 2018, Blevins became the first Twitch streamer to surpass 3 million followers on the platform.{{Cite web|last=Mickunas|first=Aaron|date=2018-03-11|title=Ninja becomes the first Twitch streamer to hit 3 million followers|url=https://dotesports.com/culture/news/ninja-becomes-first-twitch-streamer-hit-3-million-followers-21775|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Dot Esports|language=en-US}} Later that month, he set the record for the largest concurrent audience on an individual stream (outside of tournament events), 635,000, while playing Fortnite with Drake, Travis Scott, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.{{Cite web |last1=Gill |first1=Patrick |last2=Grant |first2=Christopher |last3=Miller |first3=Ross |last4=Alexander |first4=Julia |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Drake sets records with his Fortnite: Battle Royale Twitch debut |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/15/17123162/drake-ninja-fortnite-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315101436/https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/15/17123162/drake-ninja-fortnite-stream |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=March 19, 2018 |website=Polygon}} This stream inspired Epic Games, the developers behind Fortnite, to host a charitable pro-am event featuring popular streamers like Blevins paired with famous celebrities in Fortnite at E3 2018 in June of that year; Blevins paired with electronic musician Marshmello and won the event.{{Cite web |last=Pereira |first=Chris |date=March 15, 2018 |title=After Drake, Fortnite Will Host A Celebrity "Party Royale" At E3 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/after-drake-fortnite-will-host-a-celebrity-party-r/1100-6457442/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315233418/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/after-drake-fortnite-will-host-a-celebrity-party-r/1100-6457442/ |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=March 15, 2018 |website=GameSpot}}{{Cite web |last=Goslin |first=Austen |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Ninja and Marshmello win Epic's E3 2018 Fortnite Pro Am |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/12/17456476/ninja-fortnite-marshmello-win-epic-e3-2018-fortnite-pro-am |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613111536/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/12/17456476/ninja-fortnite-marshmello-win-epic-e3-2018-fortnite-pro-am |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |website=Polygon}} In April 2018, he broke his own viewing record during his event Ninja Vegas 2018, where he accumulated an audience of about 667,000 live viewers.{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2018 |title=Ninja's Vegas Fortnite event breaks Twitch viewing record |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/04/23/ninjas-vegas-fortnite-event-breaks-twitch-viewing-record/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423233639/https://www.vg247.com/2018/04/23/ninjas-vegas-fortnite-event-breaks-twitch-viewing-record/ |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018 |website=VG247}}

Blevins partnered with Red Bull Esports in June 2018, and held a special Fortnite event, the Red Bull Rise Till Dawn in Chicago on July 21, 2018, where players could challenge him.{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=June 17, 2018 |title=Ninja Partners with Red Bull Fortnite Event, Sells It Out in Minutes |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/105644/ninja-partners-with-red-bull-fortnite-event-sells-it-out-in-minutes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618080119/http://www.shacknews.com/article/105644/ninja-partners-with-red-bull-fortnite-event-sells-it-out-in-minutes |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2018 |website=Shacknews}} In April 2019, Red Bull released a limited-edition Red Bull can featuring an image of Blevins.{{Cite news |date=2019-03-27 |title=First look at official Ninja Red Bull limited-edition can |url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/first-look-official-ninja-red-bull-can-493608/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Newell |first=Adam |date=2019-03-27 |title=Ninja to get his own Red Bull can on April 1 |url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/ninja-to-get-his-own-red-bull-can-on-april-1 |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}

Blevins' rise in popularity on Twitch is considered to be synergistically tied to the success of Fortnite Battle Royale. In December 2018, Blevins estimated he had made close to {{USD|10 million}} in 2018, while Epic Games reported they had earned over {{USD|3 billion}} in revenue in the year, primarily due to Fortnite.{{Cite web |last=Biggs |first=Dave |date=December 31, 2018 |title='Ninja,' the Fortnite streamer who's one of video gaming's biggest stars |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/31/tech/ninja-fortnite-stream/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101014102/https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/31/tech/ninja-fortnite-stream/index.html |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |publisher=CNN}} He became the first PC player to surpass 5,000 Fortnite wins that same month.{{Cite web|last=Viana|first=Bhernardo|date=2018-12-28|title=Ninja is the first player to get 5,000 Victory Royales in Fortnite on PC—watch the winning moment|url=https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/ninja-is-the-first-player-to-get-5000-victory-royales-in-fortnite-watch-the-winning-moment|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Dot Esports|language=en-US}} To acknowledge Blevins' importance to Fortnite{{'}}s success, Epic added a Ninja-based cosmetic outfit to the game in January 2020 as the first part of an "Icon Series" for other real-life personalities associated with Fortnite.{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=James |date=January 15, 2020 |title=Ninja is getting a Fortnite skin |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/15/21065235/ninja-fortnite-skin-announced-stream-tyler-blevins-available-date |access-date=January 15, 2020 |website=The Verge}}

Reuters reported that Blevins had been paid {{USD|1 million}} by Electronic Arts to promote Apex Legends, a competing battle royale game to Fortnite, for playing the game on his Twitch stream and promoting the title through social media account during Apex release in February 2019.{{Cite news |last=Panchadar |first=Arjun |date=March 14, 2019 |title=Top gamer 'Ninja' made $1 million to promote EA's 'Apex Legends' launch |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-electronic-arts-apexlegends-idUSKBN1QU2AC |url-status=live |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315030122/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-electronic-arts-apexlegends-idUSKBN1QU2AC |archive-date=March 15, 2019}}

On August 1, 2019, Blevins left Twitch to stream exclusively on Microsoft's Mixer platform.{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=August 1, 2019 |title=Ninja announces he is leaving Twitch to stream exclusively on Mixer |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/1/20750393/ninja-mixer-exclusive-twitch-fortnite-streaming-gaming-announcement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814160821/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/1/20750393/ninja-mixer-exclusive-twitch-fortnite-streaming-gaming-announcement |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=August 1, 2019 |website=The Verge}}{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Allen |title=Ninja, the biggest name in online gaming, is switching streaming platforms |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/01/tech/ninja-fortnite-twitch-mixer-trnd/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801211108/https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/01/tech/ninja-fortnite-twitch-mixer-trnd/index.html |archive-date=August 1, 2019 |access-date=August 1, 2019 |website=CNN|date=August 2019 }} His wife and manager Jessica told The Verge that the contract with Twitch had limited the ability for Blevins to grow his brand outside of video gaming, and that because of the state of Twitch's community, "it really seemed like he was kind of losing himself and his love for streaming."{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=October 4, 2019 |title=Ninja left Twitch because his brand was too big for gaming |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/4/20898907/ninja-twitch-contract-mixer-streaming-microsoft-amazon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006054826/https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/4/20898907/ninja-twitch-contract-mixer-streaming-microsoft-amazon |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |website=The Verge}}

In addition to a large number of subscribers on Twitch and Mixer, Blevins has over 24 million subscribers on YouTube as of April 2021. At the time, he was earning over $500,000 per month from streaming Fortnite and credits the game's free-to-play business model as a growth factor.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Tae |date=March 19, 2018 |title=Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins explains how he makes more than $500,000 a month playing video game 'Fortnite' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/tyler-ninja-blevins-explains-how-he-makes-more-than-500000-a-month-playing-video-game-fortnite.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130427/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/19/tyler-ninja-blevins-explains-how-he-makes-more-than-500000-a-month-playing-video-game-fortnite.html |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |access-date=March 20, 2018 |website=CNBC}}

Due to the shutdown of Mixer in July 2020, Blevins was released from his exclusivity deal, enabling him to stream on other platforms.{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Bijan |date=June 22, 2020 |title=Ninja, Shroud, and other top Mixer streamers are now free to stream on Twitch again |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/22/21298963/ninja-shroud-mixer-facebook-gaming-twitch |access-date=July 1, 2020 |website=The Verge}} On September 10, 2020, Blevins revealed that he would return to streaming on Twitch after signing an exclusive multiyear deal and streamed on the platform the same day.{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Superstar Gamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins Returns to Twitch (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/superstar-gamer-tyler-ninja-blevins-returns-to-twitch-exclusive |access-date=September 10, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

On September 1, 2022, exactly two years after re-signing to Twitch, Blevins changed his name on his social media profiles, such as his Twitter{{Cite web |last=Blevins |first=Richard |title=User Not Found (@Ninja) |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/ninja |access-date=2022-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903170330/https://mobile.twitter.com/ninja |archive-date=2022-09-03 |website=Twitter |url-status=dead}} and YouTube,{{Cite web |last=Blevins |first=Richard |title=Ninja |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAW-NpUFkMyCNrvRSSGIvDQ |access-date=2022-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903171042/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAW-NpUFkMyCNrvRSSGIvDQ |archive-date=2022-09-03 |website=YouTube |url-status=dead}} to "User Not Found" with background graphics stating "Time Out". He simultaneously tweeted "I just need a break...I don't know when I will be back, or where".{{cite tweet |user=ninja |number=1565423693773389824 |access-date=2022-09-01| title=I just need a break...I don't know when I will be back, or where}} On September 8, 2022, Blevins announced his return to streaming, stating that he would simulcast his content across multiple platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.{{Cite web |last=Purcell |first=David |date=September 8, 2022 |title=Ninja isn't leaving Twitch yet – he's streaming everywhere |url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/ninja-isnt-leaving-twitch-yet-1921084/ |access-date=September 8, 2022 |website=Dexerto}}

Blevins and his family were featured in several episodes of the television game show Family Feud in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Pantzlaff |first=Andrew |date=February 12, 2015 |title=Survey Says: Brillion natives win big on Family Feud |url=http://www.thebrillionnews.com/2015/02/11/survey-says-brillion-natives-win-big-on-family-feud/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022055647/http://www.thebrillionnews.com/2015/02/11/survey-says-brillion-natives-win-big-on-family-feud/ |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |access-date=April 27, 2018 |website=The Brillion News}} In an episode aired August 2019, after he had achieved his fame, his family returned as contestants on Celebrity Family Feud.{{Cite magazine |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=August 23, 2019 |title=An incredulous Steve Harvey told Ninja to 'make some money' as a gamer in 2015 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/an-incredulous-steve-harvey-told-ninja-to-make-some-money-as-a-gamer-in-2015/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823233857/https://www.pcgamer.com/an-incredulous-steve-harvey-told-ninja-to-make-some-money-as-a-gamer-in-2015/ |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2019 |magazine=PC Gamer}}

In September 2018, Blevins became the first professional esports player to be featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, marking a breakthrough into mainstream sports fame.{{Cite web |last=Fogel |first=Stefanie |date=September 18, 2018 |title=Ninja: First Esports Player Featured on ESPN Magazine Cover |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/ninja-espn-magazine-cover-1202947409/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000719/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/ninja-espn-magazine-cover-1202947409/ |archive-date=October 6, 2018 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |website=Variety}}

Blevins worked with the record label Astralwerks in October 2018 to compile an album titled Ninjawerks: Vol. 1 featuring original songs by electronic music acts.{{Cite magazine |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=October 26, 2018 |title=Ninja Partners With Astralwerks to Release Upcoming 'Ninjawerks' Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8481863/ninja-astralwerks-ninjawerks-album |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130000728/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8481863/ninja-astralwerks-ninjawerks-album |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |magazine=Billboard}}{{Cite news |last=Cameron |first=John |date=November 29, 2018 |title=Alesso, Tycho and 3LAU Share Clips of New Music from Ninjawerks |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/alesso-tycho-3lau-clips-new-music-ninjawerks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030246/https://edm.com/music-releases/alesso-tycho-3lau-clips-new-music-ninjawerks |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |newspaper=Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists}}{{Cite news |date=December 4, 2018 |title=NERO share first song in 2 years ahead of Twitch star Ninja's Compilation |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/nero-first-song-2-years-twitch-ninja-compilation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214071105/https://edm.com/music-releases/nero-first-song-2-years-twitch-ninja-compilation |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |access-date=December 11, 2018 |newspaper=Edm.com - the Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists}} The album was released on December 14, 2018.{{Cite web |title=NinjaWerks Digital Album (Preorder) |url=https://teamninja.com/products/ninjawerks-album |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129225540/https://teamninja.com/products/ninjawerks-album |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=Team Ninja}}

Blevins was one of several Internet celebrities featured in YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind.{{Cite web |last=Fogel |first=Stefanie |date=December 7, 2018 |title=YouTube Rewind 2018 Video Features a Lot of 'Fortnite' |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/youtube-rewind-2018-fortnite-1203084067/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219190847/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/youtube-rewind-2018-fortnite-1203084067/ |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=December 19, 2019 |website=Variety}} Blevins appeared briefly during the NFL's "The 100-Year Game" ad alongside numerous several professional football players that aired during Super Bowl LIII in 2019. He was the only participant in the commercial with no ties whatsoever to football in any form.{{Cite web |last=Brady |first=Erik |date=February 4, 2019 |title=NFL commercial wins USA Today's Ad Meter with tackle-filled celebration in 'The 100-Year Game' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/Ad-Meter/2019/02/04/ad-meter-winner-nfl-the-100-year-game/2765867002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204140948/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/Ad-Meter/2019/02/04/ad-meter-winner-nfl-the-100-year-game/2765867002/ |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2019 |website=USA Today}}

Blevins has released several books with publishing house Random House. Random House imprint, Clarkson Potter, published Get Good: My Ultimate Guide to Gaming on August 20, 2019.{{Cite web|last=Hernandez|first=Patricia|date=August 13, 2019|title=If you're reading this, Ninja's new book probably isn't for you|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/13/20802206/get-good-ninja-tyler-blevins-book|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Polygon|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Boucher|first=Geoff|date=June 19, 2019|title=Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins: Digital Superstar Makes Bookshelf Bid|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/tyler-ninja-blevins-digital-superstar-makes-bookshelf-bid-1202635072/|access-date=September 28, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

Blevins participated in the second season of the Fox reality music competition The Masked Singer as "Ice Cream". He was voted out after his first performance to Devo's "Whip It" and Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and thus forced to unmasked. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Blevins said that he accepted an invitation to participate since his wife was a fan of the show.{{Cite web |last=Radulovic |first=Petrana |date=September 26, 2019 |title=Ninja sang 'Old Town Road' on The Masked Singer, and everybody was confused |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/26/20885310/the-masked-singer-fox-ninja-old-town-road |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927024650/https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/26/20885310/the-masked-singer-fox-ninja-old-town-road |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |access-date=October 17, 2019 |website=Polygon}}{{Cite magazine |last=Rice |first=Lynette |date=September 26, 2019|title=The Ice Cream speaks! Here's how 'The Masked Singer' recruited the mysterious celebrity|url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/09/26/the-masked-singer-ice-cream-tyler-ninja-blevins/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017064856/https://ew.com/tv/2019/09/26/the-masked-singer-ice-cream-tyler-ninja-blevins/|archive-date=October 17, 2019|access-date=October 17, 2019|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}

In 2022, Blevins partnered with MasterClass to create a 30-day curriculum in which Blevins provides advice on how to become a successful streamer.{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Kris |title=Learn How To Become A Streamer With Twitch Star Ninja's MasterClass |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/krisholt/2022/03/09/learn-how-to-become-a-streamer-with-twitch-star-ninjas-masterclass/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Forbes}}

In January of 2024, Blevins gained attention for getting a low taper fade haircut after clips of Twitch streamer and singer-songwriter Ericdoa singing "Imagine if Ninja got a low taper fade" went viral on TikTok. This boosted interest in the haircut significantly, with Google Trends reporting searches for the term "Low Taper Fade" reached an all time high following the moment.{{Cite web |last=Weedston |first=Lindsey |date=2024-10-10 |title=Imagine If 'Imagine If Ninja Got A Low Taper Fade' Became A Meme |url=https://www.dailydot.com/memes/low-taper-fade-meme/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Ihaza |first=Jeff |date=2024-01-19 |title=Meet Ericdoa, the Reason Why Ninja Got a Low Taper Fade |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/ericdoa-ninja-low-taper-fade-1234946014/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Popular Twitch streamer Ninja gets 'low taper fade' haircut after 21-year-old's song goes viral |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/popular-twitch-streamer-ninja-gets-low-taper-fade-haircut-after-21-year-olds-song-goes-viral-221721015.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

While online sources have reported the craze to have reached its peak in mid January of 2024, its fall off sparked a new genre of content largely focusing on the meme's supposed decline. This revived the meme, with the resulting content continuing to attract millions of views, most commonly depicting the meme as being "dragged" by Blevins' numerous references. Blevins has reacted to many of the meme's new variations on his live streams.{{Cite web |last=Weedston |first=Lindsey |date=2024-10-10 |title=Imagine If 'Imagine If Ninja Got A Low Taper Fade' Became A Meme |url=https://www.dailydot.com/memes/low-taper-fade-meme/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.twitch.tv/ninja/videos |title=Ninja Videos - Twitch |access-date=2025-01-26 |via=www.twitch.tv}}

In a fundraising charity stream held in February 2018, Blevins raised over $110,000 to be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.{{Cite web |last1=Heyn |first1=Beth |last2=Becht |first2=Eli |date=February 20, 2018 |title=Tyler Blevins 'Ninja': Everything You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/games/2018/02/tyler-blevins-ninja-wife-salary-twitch-halo-fortnite/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192817/https://heavy.com/games/2018/02/tyler-blevins-ninja-wife-salary-twitch-halo-fortnite/ |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |access-date=March 26, 2018}} During the first Fortnite Battle Royale esports event in April 2018, Blevins gave away nearly $50,000 in prize money, with $2,500 of that going to the Alzheimer's Association.{{Cite web |title=Who Won Ninja Vegas '18? Full Roundup Including Highlights and Results |url=https://www.twingalaxies.com/feed_details.php/1178/who-won-ninja-vegas-18-full-roundup-including-highlights-and-results |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423232658/https://www.twingalaxies.com/feed_details.php/1178/who-won-ninja-vegas-18-full-roundup-including-highlights-and-results |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018 |website=Twin Galaxies}} Later in April, he participated in the #Clips4Kids charity event with fellow streamers DrLupo and TimTheTatman that raised over $340,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.{{cite news |last1=Messner |first1=Steven |title=How a Destiny meetup grew to become a massive charity event raising over $2 million and counting |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/professorbroman-interview-guardiancon/ |access-date=October 29, 2021 |work=PC Gamer |date=May 5, 2018}} At E3 2018, Blevins and Marshmello won the Fortnite Pro-Am event which resulted in the donation of the $1 million prize to a charity of their choice.{{Cite web |last=Goslin |first=Austen |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Ninja and Marshmello win Epic's E3 2018 Fortnite Pro Am |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/12/17456476/ninja-fortnite-marshmello-win-epic-e3-2018-fortnite-pro-am |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613111536/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/12/17456476/ninja-fortnite-marshmello-win-epic-e3-2018-fortnite-pro-am |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |website=Polygon}} In 2024, Blevins and his older brother Jonathan raised $93,000 for cancer research, partnering with the University of Michigan and streaming from their football stadium.{{cite news |last1=Page |first1=Sam |title=Blevins Brothers Fortnite Charity Event at Michigan Stadium Raises Over $90,000 for Cancer Research {{!}} Michigan Medicine |url=https://www.michiganmedicine.org/news-release/blevins-brothers-fortnite-charity-event-michigan-stadium-raises-over-90000-cancer-research |access-date=24 October 2024 |work=www.michiganmedicine.org |date=16 September 2024 |language=en}}

{{Criticism section|date=May 2025}}

In December 2016, Blevins released the address of a donor as retribution for having a racist screen name and donation message. This act, which is referred to as "doxing", is against the Twitch rules, which states they can result in an "indefinite suspension". Blevins was reported for this act, but only received a 48-hour suspension, which some believed was a result of Blevins' large audience on the platform.{{Cite web |last=Farner |first=Shawn |title=The untold truth of Tyler "Ninja" Blevins |url=https://www.svg.com/115974/untold-truth-tyler-ninja-blevins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041336/https://www.svg.com/115974/untold-truth-tyler-ninja-blevins/ |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018 |website=SVG.com|date=March 30, 2018 }}{{Cite web |last=Blevins |first=Tyler |date=December 4, 2016 |title=I received a 48 hr suspension for releasing the persons address who donated under the racist name. I deserve this and will be back Tuesday. |url=https://twitter.com/ninja/status/805594324788314112 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806035428/https://twitter.com/Ninja/status/805594324788314112 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2018 |website=Twitter}} Blevins later tweeted that he deserved the punishment.

In March 2018, while in a stream with Nadeshot, Blevins improvised the word "nigga" while rapping to Logic's "44 More", a song in which the word was never actually said. This sparked controversy within his watching community and the general public. He later apologized for any offense caused and stated that he did not intend to say the word, instead attributing his use of the word to being "tongue-tied".{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |title=Top Twitch Streamer Ninja Rapped A Slur, Leading To A Familiar Conundrum [Update: Ninja Apologizes] |url=https://kotaku.com/top-twitch-streamer-ninja-rapped-a-slur-leading-to-a-f-1824157259 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202141/https://kotaku.com/top-twitch-streamer-ninja-rapped-a-slur-leading-to-a-f-1824157259 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=Kotaku|date=March 28, 2018 }}

In July 2018, false rumors of Blevins's death from the fictional disease "Ligma" circulated. That same month, Blevins asked his moderators to ban users who used the word on his Twitch stream, as it was being overused in the chat to set up the Ligma joke.{{Cite web |last=Katzowitz |first=Josh |date=2018-07-23 |title=Fortnite star Ninja at the center of a death hoax involving a fake disease called Ligma |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/ninja-what-is-ligma/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=The Daily Dot |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=2018-07-23 |title=After making up a Twitch death hoax, the internet can't stop joking about 'Ligma' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/23/17602822/ligma-ninja-twitch-death-hoax |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

In August 2018, Blevins stated that he does not stream with female gamers out of respect for his wife and to avoid the rumors that such streaming could create.{{Cite web|last=Frank|first=Allegra|date=August 14, 2018|title=Ninja explains his choice not to stream with female gamers|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/11/17675738/ninja-twitch-female-gamers|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517123712/https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/11/17675738/ninja-twitch-female-gamers|archive-date=May 17, 2019|access-date=August 27, 2018|website=Polygon}} He received mixed reactions; some said that he should set an example and not make it more difficult for female streamers to rise to prominence, while others supported his stance, claiming that he should be allowed to do what he wants to protect his marriage.{{Cite web|last=Haasch|first=Palmer|date=August 13, 2018|title=Twitch streamers have mixed reactions to Ninja's choice to not play with female streamers|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/13/17684832/ninja-twitch-female-streamers-reactions-pokimane-valkyrae|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827205918/https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/13/17684832/ninja-twitch-female-streamers-reactions-pokimane-valkyrae|archive-date=August 27, 2018|access-date=August 27, 2018|website=Polygon}}{{Cite news|date=August 14, 2018|title=Fortnite: Ninja won't play with female gamers|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45169157|url-status=live|access-date=August 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818012556/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45169157|archive-date=August 18, 2018}} In response to his critics, Blevins has since reaffirmed his support for gender equality and restated his commitment to his marriage, also mentioning some prominent female streamers by name.{{Cite web|date=August 13, 2018|title=Ninja responds to criticism of his refusal to stream with women|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/13/17686818/ninja-female-streamers-twitch-response|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817231117/https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/13/17686818/ninja-female-streamers-twitch-response|archive-date=August 17, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2018|website=Polygon}}

File:Jess and Ninja (52900837145) (cropped).jpg He noted that women are welcome to play with him in a group or at events as he claims such situations allow him to "control the narrative more, without stupid drama and rumors flooding into our lives."

In October 2018, Blevins reported a player for "having a higher ping" than him. This led to a player claiming on November 16, 2018, that they had been banned as a result of the report, which Epic Games denied.{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Jamie |date=November 17, 2018 |title=Ninja reported a player for high ping and was later accused of getting someone falsely banned |url=https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/ninja-reported-a-player-for-high-ping-and-was-later-accused-of-getting-someone-falsely-banned |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041516/https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/ninja-reported-a-player-for-high-ping-and-was-later-accused-of-getting-someone-falsely-banned |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018 |website=Dot Esports}} Both of these incidents caused backlash against Blevins on social media.{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Jamie |date=November 12, 2018 |title=Here's why Ninja is receiving hate for falsely accusing someone of stream sniping |url=https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/heres-why-ninja-is-receiving-hate-for-falsely-accusing-someone-of-stream-sniping?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=73322&relatedposts_position=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041424/https://dotesports.com/fortnite/news/heres-why-ninja-is-receiving-hate-for-falsely-accusing-someone-of-stream-sniping?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=73322&relatedposts_position=1 |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |access-date=December 20, 2018 |website=Dot Esports}}

In November 2018, Blevins received criticism for falsely reporting IcyFive, a Fortnite player, for stream sniping. IcyFive claimed that he did not stream snipe Blevins and uploaded a video as proof. Blevins later apologized to IcyFive on Twitter but also accused the player of "playing the victim" and "milking" the incident, calling him "naive" for assuming players would be banned solely on his word.{{Cite web |title=Ninja Reports 'Fortnite' Player for Stream Sniping and Later Apologizes |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/11/12/fortnite-ninja-reports-player-for-stream-sniping-apologizes/&psig=AOvVaw0hxilpUX26WcrV1HZQldF3&ust=1543672550396225 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201005114/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/11/12/fortnite-ninja-reports-player-for-stream-sniping-apologizes/%26psig%3DAOvVaw0hxilpUX26WcrV1HZQldF3%26ust%3D1543672550396225 |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=ComicBook.com}}

Blevins has been married to his wife Jessica Blevins (née Goch){{Cite web|last=Blevins|first=Jessica|date=June 2, 2018|title=Just letting everyone know that I changed my last name to Blevins when I married @Ninja Lots of news outlets continue to say my name is Jessica Goch. Not my name anymore <3!|url=https://x.com/JessicaBlevins/status/1002901602636886016#|access-date=December 26, 2024|website=X|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Dave |date=2018-08-16 |title=Meet Jessica Blevins, the 26-year-old wife and manager of the most popular video-game player in the world right now |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jessica-blevins-tyler-ninja-interview-2018-8 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Talbot |first=Kate |date=2020-09-07 |title=Meet The Woman Behind Ninja's Astronomical Success: Jessica Blevins |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katetalbot/2020/09/03/meet-the-woman-behind-ninjas-astronomical-success-jessica-blevins/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}} since 2017.{{Cite web |last=Dahir |first=Ikran |date=2024-03-27 |title=Who is Ninja, the gaming streamer diagnosed with skin cancer aged 32? |url=https://www.aol.co.uk/news/ninja-gaming-streamer-diagnosed-skin-162142446.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=AOL |language=en-GB}} Blevins has two brothers, Jonathan and Chris. Jonathan also streams on Twitch as "BeardedBlevins". Chris is a teacher.{{cite news |last1=Tarallo |first1=Ambra |title=The Untold Truth Of Ninja's Brothers |url=https://www.svg.com/204739/the-untold-truth-of-ninjas-brothers/ |work=SVG |date=27 April 2020}}

On March 26, 2024, Blevins revealed that he had been diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/health/tyler-blevins-skin-cancer-melanoma.html|title=Tyler Blevins, Video Gaming Star, Reveals Skin Cancer Diagnosis|work=The New York Times|date=March 26, 2024|accessdate=March 26, 2024}} A week later, on April 4, Blevins announced that he was officially cancer free following a biopsy.{{Cite web|title=Ninja Just Shared Great News With Fans After Cancer Diagnosis|url=https://www.svg.com/1555730/ninja-shared-great-news-fans-cancer-diagnosis/|access-date=April 4, 2024|website=svg.com|date=April 4, 2024 |language=en}}

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