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{{short description|American YouTube and former Twitch streamer (born 1988)}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name                 = Destiny
| logo                 = Destiny (streamer) logo.svg
| logo_caption         = Bonnell's logo wordmark
| image                = Steven "Destiny" Bonnell, 2022 (cropped).jpg
| image_caption        = Bonnell in 2022
| birth_name           = Steven Kenneth Bonnell II
| birth_date           = <!-- A reliable source is required-->{{birth based on age as of date | 31 | 2020 | 1 | 15 }}<ref name="Wired" /> 
| birth_place          = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
| death_date           = 
| death_place          = 
| spouse               = {{marriage|Melina Göransson|December 2021}}
| occupation           = {{ubl|Political & Social Commenator|Streamer}}
| website              = {{URL|destiny.gg}}
| pseudonym            = 
| channels             = {{ubl
| [https://www.youtube.com/user/destiny Destiny]
| [https://www.youtube.com/@LastNightDestiny Last Night on Destiny]
}}
| channel_display_name = 
| years_active         = 2013–present
| genre                = {{ubl|[[Video gaming]]|[[political commentary]]}}
| network              = 
| associated_acts      = {{flatlist|
*[[JonTron]]
*[[Hasan Piker]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=23 August 2019 |title=Twitch Suspends Popular Leftist Streamer After Controversial 9/11 Comments |url=https://kotaku.com/twitch-suspends-popular-leftist-streamer-after-controve-1837518859 |work=[[kotaku]] |location= |access-date=11 September 2022}}</ref>
*[[Lauren Southern]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=8 June 2019 |title=Caleb Cain was a college dropout looking for direction. He turned to YouTube. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/08/technology/youtube-radical.html |work=[[New York Times]] |location= |access-date=11 September 2022}}</ref>
*[[Trihex]]
*[[David Pakman]]
*[[Vaush]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Oscar |date=29 June 2022 |title=Meet the Twitch, YouTube Streamers Who Deradicalize While They Debate |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/misinformation/features/meet-the-twitch-youtube-streamers-who-deradicalize-while-they-debate/ |work=[[CNET]] |location= |access-date=11 August 2022}}</ref>
}}
[[Sam Seder]]
| language             = 
| subscribers          = 654,000
| views                = 415,000,000
| silver_button        = y
| silver_year          = 2018
| stats_update         = 10 May 2023
| module               = {{Infobox Twitch streamer
| subbox               = yes
| channel_name = Destiny
| genre                = Politics/Gaming
| years_active         = 2011–2022 
| followers            = 699,700 (before his indefinite suspension)
}}
}}

'''Steven Kenneth Bonnell II''' (born 1988)<!--Do not ad a specific date without a reliable source showing that this information is public knowledge-->, known online as '''Destiny''', is an American [[Livestreaming|internet streamer]] and [[political commentator]]. He was among the first people to stream [[video game]]s online full-time and received attention as a pioneer of the industry.<ref name="vergeWhy">{{cite web|last1=McCormick|first1=Rich|date=August 26, 2014|title=This is why people want to watch other people play video games|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/8/26/6068993/this-is-why-people-want-to-watch-other-people-play-video-games|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200628200252/https://www.theverge.com/2014/8/26/6068993/this-is-why-people-want-to-watch-other-people-play-video-games|archive-date=June 28, 2020|access-date=13 March 2019|website=The Verge}}</ref>
Since 2016, he has garnered further attention for [[Livestreaming|live-streaming]] political debates with other online personalities, in which he advocates for [[Progressivism|progressive]] and [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] politics.<ref name="Wired">{{Cite news|last=Quirk|first=Trevor|date=January 15, 2020|title=Can This Notorious Troll Turn People Away From Extremism?|language=en|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/twitch-politics-online-debate/|url-status=live|access-date=2020-04-16|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200628200339/https://www.wired.com/story/twitch-politics-online-debate/|archive-date=June 28, 2020|issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref name="motherjones20" />

== Early life ==
Steven Kenneth Bonnell II was born in [[Omaha, Nebraska]] to a [[Cuban Americans|Cuban-American]] mother and a [[White Americans|White American]] father.<ref name="Wired" /> He was raised in a [[Conservatism|conservative]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] home,<ref name="Wired" /> and he attended [[Creighton Preparatory School]], a private [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] high school for boys.<ref name="motherjones20">{{Cite news|last=Breland|first=Ali|date=2020-04-01|title=Steve Bonnell Made Big Bucks Following a Simple Plan: Play Video Games. Troll Your Fans. Fight the Online Right.|work=Mother Jones|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/04/destiny-twitch/|access-date=2020-06-30}}</ref> When he was a [[Preadolescence|pre-teen]], his mother's home day care business collapsed, and his family's home was foreclosed.<ref name="motherjones20" /> A few years later his parents moved to take care of an aging relative, after which he lived with his grandmother until he was 18.<ref name="Wired" />

In 2007, Bonnell enrolled at the [[University of Nebraska Omaha|University of Nebraska, Omaha]], where he studied music while working night shifts as a restaurant manager at a casino. Ultimately unable to juggle both his education and full-time work, Bonnell dropped out of college in 2010. Soon after, he was fired from his restaurant position, and found work as a carpet cleaner.<ref name="Wired" /><ref name="motherjones20" />

== Career ==

In 2011, Bonnell quit his job as a carpet cleaner to stream video games full-time. Streaming his ''[[Starcraft II]]'' matches on [[livestream.com]] and [[ustream.tv]],<ref>{{cite AV media |people=[[No Jumper]] |date=2 September 2022 |title=The Destiny Interview: Relationships, Trans Rights, Trump, Keffals & More |trans-title= |type=Video |language= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU2fo-sxd1M |access-date=4 September 2022 |archive-url= |archive-date= |format= |time=13:40 |location= |publisher= |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= }}</ref> then [[Justin.tv]] (now [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]]), he was immediately financially successful.<ref name="vergeWhy" /><ref name="motherjones20" /><ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 1, 2013|title=Inside the new world of 24/7 on-demand videogame TV|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/inside-the-new-world-of-247-on-demand-videogame-tv/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707111129/http://www.edge-online.com/features/inside-the-new-world-of-247-on-demand-videogame-tv/|archive-date=July 7, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2019|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]}}</ref> In October of that year, Bonnell joined professional team Quantic Gaming and placed 4th in the 2011 [[Major League Gaming|MLG]] Global North American invitational.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Steven "Destiny" Bonnell joins Quantic Gaming|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/157679/Steven_ldquoDestinyrdquo_Bonnell_joins_Quantic%0AGaming.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200628200833/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/157679/Steven_ldquoDestinyrdquo_Bonnell_joins_Quantic%0AGaming.php|archive-date=June 28, 2020|access-date=2020-04-16|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en}}</ref>
During his years as a ''Starcraft II'' streamer, Bonnell was known for his abrasive and confrontational style, including use of  "acerbic and often offensive" comments against other players for shock humor.<ref name="vergeWhy" /> Bonnell identified as a [[Right-libertarianism|libertarian]] during this era, but his politics began shifting toward liberalism after an incident in which he heard another streamer call a [[gay]] person a "fucking [[Faggot (slang)|faggot]]".<ref name="Wired" /><ref name="motherjones20" />

Starting in 2016, Bonnell has gained attention for live-streaming political debates with other internet personalities. Subsequent journalistic and academic coverage of right-wing [[YouTube]] commentary has credited Bonnell as an early and effective opposition to it, particularly owing to his provocative, combative debate style which appeals to right-wing gaming audiences.<ref name="Wired" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Roose|first=Kevin|date=2019-06-08|title=The Making of a YouTube Radical (Published 2019)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/08/technology/youtube-radical.html|access-date=2020-12-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bonnell himself has stated that his intention is not to persuade their opponents, but to persuade the audience; although he has expressed that airing his opinions often feels "like screaming into the void", he estimates he has received hundreds of emails from former members of the [[alt-right]] crediting him for their conversion to [[left-wing politics]].<ref name="Wired" /><ref name="motherjones20" /> In 2019, Bonnell began debating in favor of [[capitalism]] against [[Socialism|socialists]] and [[Communism|communists]].<ref name="Wired" />

Bonnell debated popular YouTuber Jon Jafari, better known as [[JonTron]], on [[immigration]] and [[Cultural assimilation|assimilation]] in March 2017, after Jafari tweeted in support of anti-immigration statements by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] congressman [[Steve King]]. In his debate with Bonnell, Jafari's statements concerning race, crime, and immigration were seen as controversial by viewers, and the subsequent backlash garnered media attention.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Popular YouTuber JonTron Has Some Batshit Crazy Thoughts on Immigration He'd Like to Share [Update]|url=https://gizmodo.com/popular-youtuber-jontron-has-some-batshit-crazy-thought-1793231221|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Gizmodo|date=March 13, 2017 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Gajanan|first=Mahita|date=March 14, 2017|title=YouTube Star JonTron Under Fire for Comments on Race and Immigration|url=https://time.com/4701304/jontron-jon-jafari-steve-bonnell-immigration-race-youtube/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190903131306/https://time.com/4701304/jontron-jon-jafari-steve-bonnell-immigration-race-youtube/|archive-date=September 3, 2019|access-date=2020-04-19|magazine=Time|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Gita |title=Longtime Fans Of YouTuber JonTron Say They Can't Watch Him Anymore |url=https://kotaku.com/longtime-fans-of-youtuber-jontron-say-they-cant-watch-h-1793382911 |access-date=September 11, 2022 |work=Kotaku |date=March 17, 2017 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-21|title=A Brief Breakdown of the JonTron Racism Controversy|url=https://gamerant.com/jontron-racism-controversy-breakdown/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Game Rant|language=en-US}}</ref>

In November 2018, Bonnell and fellow streamer [[Trihex]] (Mychal Ramon Jefferson) premiered a political commentary collaboration'', The'' ''DT Podcast''. The [[podcast]] streamed its final episode in October 2019, during which Jefferson confronted Bonnell regarding statements the latter had made defending his use of offensive humor—including racial slurs—in private.<ref name="motherjones20" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Viana|first=Bhernardo|date=2019-10-24|title=Trihex and Destiny end their podcast over use of the n-word|url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/trihex-and-destiny-end-their-podcast-over-use-of-the-n-word|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Dot Esports|language=en-US}}</ref>

Bonnell was notified in September 2020 that his Twitch partnership agreement would be terminated the following month for "encouragement of violence". The termination came as a result of comments made on-stream after the [[Kenosha unrest shooting]], in which Bonnell expressed opposition to riots at the [[George Floyd protests]]. Bonnell said that "the rioting needs to fucking stop, and if that means like white redneck fucking militia dudes out there mowing down dipshit protesters that think that they can torch buildings at ten p.m., then at this point they have my fucking blessing..."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Richman|first=Olivia|title=Destiny loses Twitch partnership for "encouraging violence" - LoL - News|url=https://win.gg/news/5496/destiny-loses-twitch-partnership-for-encouraging-violence|access-date=2020-12-26|website=WIN.gg|date=September 12, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-12|title=Twitch Legal Department Unpartners Destiny After 'Encouragement of Violence'|url=https://gamerant.com/twitch-destiny-streamer-partner/|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Game Rant|language=en-US}}</ref> Bonnell later clarified this point, saying [[Kyle Rittenhouse]] was clearly misguided but that Bonnell's frustration was with rioters who Bonnell believed would scare people into voting for [[Donald Trump]] again.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bonell |first1=Steven |title=Kyle Rittenhouse ("mowing down protestors") |url=https://positions.destiny.gg/docs/current_events#kyle-rittenhouse-mowing-down-protestors |website=My Position}}</ref>

In March 2022, Bonnell was indefinitely banned from Twitch due to "hateful conduct".<ref name="Polhamus">{{Cite web |last=Polhamus |first=Blaine |date=2022-03-23 |title=Political streamer Destiny banned from Twitch |url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/political-streamer-destiny-banned-from-twitch |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Litchfield">{{Cite news |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=2022-03-27 |title=Politics streamer Destiny receives indefinite ban from Twitch |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/politics-streamer-destiny-receives-indefinite-ban-from-twitch/ |access-date=2022-03-28}}</ref> ''[[Dot Esports]]'' speculates that this may have been due to Bonnell streaming with white nationalist [[Nick Fuentes]], who had previously been banned from the platform.<ref name="Polhamus" /><ref name="Litchfield" /><ref name="gach-7-22">{{cite news |last1=Gach |first1=Ethan |title=Trans Streamer Keffals Says Twitch Banned Her For 'Openly Talking' About Abuse She Receives |url=https://kotaku.com/twitch-ban-keffals-destiny-trans-hate-speech-slur-1849315462 |access-date=September 11, 2022 |work=Kotaku |date=July 21, 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref> Bonnell speculated that the ban reason may have been linked to his expressing the view that "transwomen shouldn't compete with ciswomen in women's athletics".<ref name="Litchfield" />

== Political views and activism ==
Bonnell describes himself as an "Omniliberal", a phrase he uses to describe a person who believes in the core principles of [[liberalism]], freedom and equality, whilst believing in elements of other ideologies in a "pragmatic way".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Politics {{!}} My Positions |url=https://positions.destiny.gg//docs/politics |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=positions.destiny.gg |language=en}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=October 2022}} Bonnell has also described himself as "a very big [[Social democracy|social democrat]]".<ref name="motherjones20" /> He has argued against both [[far-right politics]] and [[far-left politics]].<ref name="Wired"/><ref name="motherjones20" /> In 2021, Bonnell debated Marxian economist [[Richard D. Wolff]], with Bonnell defending capitalism. Bonnell described the label of "socialism" as poorly-defined, and noted a history of [[famine]] and abuses in countries like the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]], while Wolff responded by attempting to correct perceived misrepresentations from Bonnell of his views on socialism throughout the debate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gault |first1=Matthew |title=Twitch Streamer Destiny and an Economist Debate Capitalism, Achieve Nothing |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg8x77/twitch-streamer-destiny-and-an-economist-debate-capitalism-achieve-nothing |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=Vice |date=April 23, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Bonnell has cited his poverty during his teenage and college-aged years as an influence on his views, and says that he prefers to argue based on [[Empirical evidence|empirical data]] rather than [[moral suasion]].<ref name="motherjones20" />

In 2020, Bonnell supported the general election campaign of [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Voting For / Against Biden - Debate w/ Kim Iversen |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fjOr9Kooc |website=www.youtube.com |access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=June 2023}} Following Biden's victory, Bonnell led a [[canvassing]] campaign in support of Democratic candidates [[Jon Ossoff]] and [[Raphael Warnock]] in the [[2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia|2020–21 Georgia Senate runoffs]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Sakura |title=MATH MVMT hosts canvassing event ahead of Georgia Senate runoffs |url=https://www.wrbl.com/news/georgia-news/math-mvmt-hosts-canvassing-event-ahead-of-senate-run-offs/ |website=WRBL |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=21 December 2020}}</ref> With the help of approximately 140 volunteers mobilized from Bonnell's online audience, the campaign knocked on an estimated 17,500–20,000 doors in [[Columbus, Georgia]], making it one of the larger campaigns of the election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Citarella|first=Joshua|date=2021-04-24|title=Are we ready for social media influencers shaping politics?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/24/social-media-influencers-shaping-politics|access-date=2022-02-20|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

Bonnell led another canvassing operation in support of Mark Gudgel for the [[2021 Omaha mayoral election]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Anton |title=How one creator is using streaming service Twitch to shape an Omaha mayoral candidate's 'Destiny' |url=https://unothegateway.com/the-gateway-unpacks-how-one-creator-is-using-streaming-service-twitch-to-shape-an-omaha-mayoral-candidates-destiny/ |website=The Gateway |access-date=18 February 2021 |date=17 February 2021}}</ref> On March 3, 2021, Gudgel officially cut ties with Bonnell over the latter's statements regarding riots at the George Floyd protests.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ristau |first1=Reece |title=Omaha mayoral candidate cuts ties with internet personality over protest comments |url=https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/omaha-mayoral-candidate-cuts-ties-with-internet-personality-over-protest-comments/article_d089b9a2-7c44-11eb-b83a-23e235d679a3.html |website=[[Omaha World-Herald]] |access-date=14 March 2021 |date=13 March 2021}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Bonnell has lived in Nebraska before relocating to the Los Angeles area in December 2018.<ref name="motherjones20" /><ref name="Wired" /> In late 2021 he moved to [[Miami, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=BLM Organizer Confronts Destiny On Jacob Blake And Defund The Police... - YouTube|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=lt9dN5sNG8E&t=59|access-date=2022-01-19|via=YouTube}}</ref>

Bonnell is openly [[bisexual]] and currently in an [[open marriage]] with Swedish streamer Melina Göransson.<ref name="motherjones20" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Open Relationships, Intense Officer Confrontation & Dealing w/ the Police - LNOD |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jDrXd78vUs |website=www.youtube.com |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Personal |url=https://positions.destiny.gg/docs/personal |website=destiny.gg |access-date=2021-05-31|quote=Melina and I are currently in an open/poly relationship. We treat each other as primary partners, though we may pursue other sexual/romantic relationships as well.}}</ref> Bonnell and Göransson married in December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Göransson|first=Melina|title=I am married!|url=https://twitter.com/melinagoranson/status/1475584122777128963|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227214741/https://twitter.com/melinagoranson/status/1475584122777128963 |archive-date=December 27, 2021 }}</ref>

Having studied music in college at the [[University of Nebraska, Omaha]], he plays multiple instruments, including the keyboard, saxophone and guitar.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Breland|first=Ali|title=Steve Bonnell made big bucks following a simple plan: Play video games. Troll your fans. Fight the online right.|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/04/destiny-twitch/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Destiny}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American LGBT people]]
[[Category:21st-century American LGBT people]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American people of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:American political commentators]]
[[Category:American bisexual people]]
[[Category:American YouTubers]]
[[Category:Bisexual men]]
[[Category:Florida Democrats]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American people]]
[[Category:Liberalism in the United States]]
[[Category:LGBT YouTubers]]
[[Category:Nebraska Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:StarCraft players]]
[[Category:Twitch (service) streamers]]
[[Category:Twitter controversies]]
[[Category:University of Nebraska alumni]]
[[Category:Utilitarians]]
[[Category:YouTubers from Nebraska]]
[[Category:1988 births]]