Kai Cenat Explains Why He Has Taken a Break from Twitch

The platform's most-subscribed creator hasn't gone live since September 2025. Now he's talking.

Kai Cenat spoke to TMZ at LAX on 15 January and addressed what's been going on. The 24-year-old's absence began right after Mafiathon 3 wrapped up on 30 September. That month-long streaming event shattered records when Cenat became the first Twitch broadcaster to cross one million active subscribers.

Then? Nothing.

Well, not nothing. Turns out he's been working through some stuff.

Mental Health Takes Priority

Back in December, Cenat dropped an X post about the real reason behind his disappearance. "Honestly, for the past few months, I've been struggling with mental health out of self-doubt and fright of pursuing goals I really want to achieve," he wrote. The admission caught people off guard. Here's someone at the absolute peak of his profession admitting he's dealing with imposter syndrome.

The break, according to Cenat, has been necessary. "Honestly, it's been getting better," he told fans earlier. "But out of frustration and fear, I've just been in my head for some reason. I never had this feeling before."

Speaking to TMZ this week, Cenat confirmed the hiatus has been "a lot of fun" and gave him room to breathe. When you've just pulled off 30 consecutive days of non-stop broadcasting that earned you over $4 million in subscriber revenue alone, stepping back makes sense.

The "I Quit" Video That Fooled Everyone

On 13 January, Cenat uploaded a video to a YouTube channel called "Kai's Mind" with the title "I Quit". The internet collectively panicked.

Twenty-three minutes later, viewers realised the video wasn't about quitting streaming. Not exactly, anyway.

"I quit thinking in my head of the goals I want to achieve and not pursuing them because I'm known for one thing and super scared of stepping out of that box to try new things," Cenat explained in the opening. The "one thing" being streaming. The goals? Fashion.

The video revealed Vivet, Cenat's new clothing brand. Not some quick merch drop with his name slapped on hoodies. A proper fashion label built in Italy with guidance from celebrity stylist Law Roach, the man who shaped Zendaya's entire aesthetic.

Footage showed Cenat travelling through Italy, working with tailors, learning denim construction. He's already sewn a couple hoodies himself and plans to move onto denim next, though he admits he's still learning the craft.

The name Vivet derives from Latin, meaning "to live". For Cenat, the brand represents building something permanent beyond viral moments and subscriber counts. The logo, internally called ET3, blends a cross with an infinity symbol. Legacy work.

What His Friends Are Saying

Fellow streamer YourRage sparked retirement rumours on 12 January. "Gang, how do I tell you, he retired from streaming. He's not hitting none of this. He's done. He's a star now, he's gonna be in movies and stuff," YourRage said during a broadcast.

The claim isn't entirely baseless. Cenat, Kevin Hart, and Druski showcased a trailer during Mafiathon 3 for "Livestream from Hell", a horror film satirising streaming culture. Plus Cenat has repeatedly stated he wants to transition into acting after Twitch. During Mafiathon 3, he even received advice from LeBron James about navigating his expanding influence.

Still, retirement feels premature. Cenat promised Streamer University would return in 2026. He's teased future projects. The break seems more about rebalancing than walking away.

The Mafiathon 3 Hangover

Understanding the hiatus requires looking at what came before. Mafiathon 3 ran for 30 consecutive days throughout September 2025. Round-the-clock broadcasts. Celebrity guests including Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, Ice Spice, and Linkin Park. The event generated 82.5 million hours watched and peaked at over one million concurrent viewers.

On the final day, LeBron James appeared alongside his daughter Zhuri and cut off Cenat's signature locs, which he'd been growing for a decade. The NBA legend also gifted him a Lakers-themed Audemars Piguet watch valued at $200,000 and unreleased LeBron XXIII sneakers.

After something that massive, disappearing makes sense.

Return Timeline Unknown

Cenat hasn't announced when he'll return to Twitch. His subscriber count has dropped from the Mafiathon 3 peak of 1,112,947 down to around 46,210 as of mid-January. That still places him sixth amongst the platform's most-subscribed channels.

For now, he's focused on Vivet and uploading content to Kai's Mind, which features workouts, reading sessions, and behind-the-scenes brand development. The fashion line's website is live with a waitlist for the first product, a journal documenting the brand's creative process.

Whether this represents a permanent shift in priorities or just a temporary detour, one thing's clear. The break was needed. And Cenat's making the most of it.