Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, already facing backlash for allegedly using a shock collar on his dog during a live broadcast, stirred further outrage Tuesday night after declaring it was “unfortunate” that the Soviet Union lost the Cold War.
Piker’s remark came after he was reportedly denied access to the VIP section at the election night celebration for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat. Speaking with a reporter at the event, Piker was asked about Mamdani’s victory — a win that came despite the candidate being labeled a “communist” by critics, including former President Donald Trump.
“I think we are in the heart of the imperial core. This is the country that defeated the USSR, unfortunately,” Piker said. “And the reality of the matter is, there’s a lot of antagonism. There’s no class consciousness in the United States of America. It’s one of the things I try to address every day with my commentary.”
The comments followed a week of controversy surrounding Piker’s treatment of his dog on stream — an incident that drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, including Vice President J.D. Vance. The criticism reignited debate over the influencer’s behavior and political rhetoric, which frequently includes socialist and anti-capitalist themes.
Piker’s statement mourning the Soviet Union’s collapse only intensified that scrutiny, raising questions about his ideological leanings and his continued prominence in online political commentary.
Hasan Piker just went full mask off at the Zohran election victory party, declares it a tragedy that the USA defeated the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
AOC embraced him on camera just two minutes before he said this pic.twitter.com/2VynJOL7BK
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) November 5, 2025
Piker went on to elaborate on his worldview, suggesting that the deteriorating conditions in the United States are leading ordinary Americans to question the current system.
“And I will say this: The conditions have deteriorated so much that everyday Americans, in spite of their lack of class consciousness, are finally arriving at the conclusion that perhaps there is an alternative out there — an alternative that focuses on them, as opposed to the interests of the billionaires and millionaires, as opposed to the interests of the capital owners,” Piker said. “And, I mean, you can’t help but notice that. You can’t help but feel at least a little bit of excitement around that.”
However, his comments sparked renewed outrage, particularly given the historical toll of communist regimes. According to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, over 100 million people were killed under communist governments led by the Soviet Union, which was founded in 1917 following the Bolshevik Revolution that overthrew the Russian monarchy.
The controversy surrounding Piker deepened after streamers and Reddit users compiled several clips showing him allegedly using — or threatening to use — a shock collar to control his dog, Kaya, during live broadcasts. Viewers speculated about the device’s use after Kaya was heard yelping in one stream.
“He’s been using a shock collar on a setting so high that his dog F***ING SCREAMS when he uses it,” fellow streamer Tectone claimed in an Oct. 7 post on X, sharing footage that appeared to show Piker pressing something under his desk moments before the dog cried out.
Experts note that shock collars can cause severe stress and anxiety in dogs, often leading to increased aggression and other harmful behaviors, according to Dogster.com.
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