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Westcol

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Colombian streamer (born 2000) In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Villa and the second or maternal family name is Álvarez.

Westcol
Westcol in 2023
BornLuis Fernando Villa Álvarez
(2000-12-24) December 24, 2000 (age 24)
Ciudad Bolívar, Antioquia, Colombia
OccupationYouTuber
Years active2015–present
Known forStreaming on Kick
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2018–2023
Followers1.5 million
Kick information
Channel
Years active2023–present
Followers1.7 million
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2015–present
Subscribers1.12 million
Total views191 million
Creator Awards
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers
Last updated: December 2024

Luis Fernando Villa Álvarez (Spanish: [ˈlwis feɾˈnando ˈβiʝa ˈalβaɾes], born December 24, 2000), better known by his online alias Westcol, is a Colombian online streamer, and YouTuber. Recognized as the most-followed streamer on Kick, Westcol rose to fame through his engaging personality, controversial statements, gaming and Just Chatting content and live events. His prominence has positioned him as a key Latin American streaming community figure.

Career

Streaming debut

Villa began his career as a content creator in 2015, uploading videos to YouTube. In 2018, he transitioned to Twitch, where he gained recognition streaming games such as Minecraft and engaging in Just Chatting sessions. By 2023, Villa shifted his primary platform to Kick following Twitch's gambling policy changes.

Content focus

Westcol's streams are known for featuring content such as Minecraft, live audience interactions, and real-life events, including his boxing event and participation in the Américas Kings League with his club, West Santos FC, alongside Arcángel. He is also known for his casino streams and collaborations with prominent creators like Adin Ross and Sergio Aguero. His charismatic yet controversial approach has attracted a diverse fan base. Westcol has collaborated with numerous notable creators in the streaming and entertainment industries. Among his most prominent collaborations is a joint stream with IShowSpeed, a widely popular creator known for his energetic and comedic content. Additionally, Westcol has a close friendship with Colombian reggaeton artist Blessd, frequently sharing moments with him both online and offline, further blending the worlds of music and streaming.

Move to Kick

In April 2023, Westcol joined Kick, becoming the most-followed streamer on the platform, with over 1.7 million followers by December 2024. His migration to Kick was marked by significant viewership growth, making him a pivotal figure in the platform's expansion in Latin America.

Music

W Sound

In 2024, Westcol launched a collaborative music project, W Sound, which combined urban music production with rotating collaborations involving prominent artists and producers. Based in Medellín, the project is a partnership between Westcol and producer Ovy On The Drums, aiming to explore new musical styles within the Latin urban genre.

Releases

  • "Soltera" (W Sound 01) – Released in August 2024, this debut track featured Blessd and Ovy On The Drums. It achieved notable success, ranking eighth on Spotify's "Top 50: Colombia" and trending nationally on YouTube.
  • "Mi Novio Tiene Novia" (W Sound 02) – Featuring Valka and produced by Ovy On The Drums, this October 2024 release showcased a playful narrative, though it faced criticism for its controversial lyrics.
  • "SQ" (W Sound 04) – Released in November 2024, this track featured Ryan Castro alongside Ovy On The Drums.

W Sound has been compared to the work of Argentine producer Bizarrap due to its collaborative format and emphasis on visual storytelling. However, it has also drawn criticism for some of its lyrical content.

Controversies

  • In 2022, Villa made threatening derogatory remarks about the LGBTQ+ community. Leading to a lawsuit and a mandate by the Constututional Court of Colombia to undergo training on LGBTQ+ rights and use his platform to promote inclusivity.
  • In 2023, Westcol sparked controversy after referring to the Colombian city of Ibagué as a "hole" during a livestream. He claimed that Ibagué would never be a significant reference for foreigners and added further disparaging remarks about the city. The comments prompted public backlash, including from Andrés Hurtado, the mayor of Ibagué, who declared Westcol a persona non grata. Two lawyers filed legal actions to demand a formal retraction of his statements and called for stricter regulation of online content.
  • In 2024, Westcol was banned from entering El Salvador to attend Gamergy, a prominent esports and gaming event, after making misogynistic comments during a livestream. He stated, "When I went to El Salvador, I didn’t see any attractive women," sparking significant backlash. Yamil Bukele, the president of the Salvadoran National Sports Institute, announced that Westcol would not be allowed to attend the event, citing the need to uphold respect and the values promoted by Gamergy. Despite being excluded, Westcol defended his comments and refused to apologize.

Personal life

Westcol is currently based in Medellín, Colombia. He is in a relationship with Valka and has publicly addressed his past relationship with Colombian influencer Aída Victoria Merlano.

Achievements

  • Record-holder for the highest simultaneous viewers on Kick.

References

  1. "Westcol's Twitch Stats Summary Profile (Social Blade Twitch Statistics)".
  2. "Westcol Stats | AeroKick".
  3. ^ "About Westcol". YouTube.
  4. Mundia, Khizar (21 October 2024). "Who is WestCol, the Kick streamer who has overtaken Adin Ross?". Gameland.gg. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  5. "Westcol hace historia: El streamer hispanohablante más grande se une a los Squid Games". RevistaClevel.com (in Spanish). 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. Estrada, Eduardo. "Westcol es el streamer hispano más visto del mundo por tercer mes consecutivo". StoryBaker.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  7. "WestCol biografía: ¿Quién es Luis Villa y cómo fueron sus comienzos?". TuNota (in Spanish). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  8. "WestCOL - Twitch Stats, Analytics and Channel Overview". StreamsCharts.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  9. "All the biggest streamers that joined Kick". esports.gg. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  10. "Westcol SHATTERS Kick Records with Historic Boxing Event". Streamers Visuals. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. "Cuenta regresiva para el inicio de la Kings League Américas". Diario AS (in Spanish). 19 February 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  12. Barrera, Elsa (25 October 2023). "Westcol participará en la Kings League de Gerard Piqué junto a un famoso reguetonero". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  13. "Kings League Americas: Cómo jugar y cuánto ganar por estar en el equipo de James, 'Westcol' u otro". MARCA (in Spanish). 28 October 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  14. Mukherjee, Shreyan (30 May 2024). ""Let's go to my house" - Sergio Aguero invites Kick streamer WestCOL to possibly meet Lionel Messi in Miami". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  15. TURRIÓN, MARIO MARTÍN; HAYES, DYLAN (13 January 2025). "IShowSpeed and a surprising confusion: cornstarch 'rains' down on him and he confuses it with cocaine". MARCA. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  16. SuperLike (3 November 2022). "El motivo por el Blessd y Westcol paralizaron Medellín". SuperLike (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  17. SuperLike (28 June 2024). "Blessd le envia un mensaje de apoyo a Westcol". SuperLike (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  18. "WestCol topples Adin Ross as Kick's biggest streamer with new viewership record". Dexerto. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  19. "El impresionante récord que rompió un streamer sudamericano en Kick - TyC Sports". www.tycsports.com (in Spanish). 21 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  20. "WestCOL se convierte en el Ibai de Kick: Destroza récords en la plataforma verde con su propia velada". MARCA (in Spanish). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  21. RCN, Noticias (10 August 2024). "Este es el nuevo, y lucrativo, negocio del 'streamer' WestCol". Noticias RCN (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  22. "¿El nuevo Bizarrap? Así le fue a Westcol en su primera sesión musical junto a Blessd". Publimetro (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  23. Niño, Por Luciano (12 October 2024). "Westcol recibió fuertes críticas por la vulgar letra de su nueva canción: "Irrespeta a las mujeres"". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  24. "De Colombia para el mundo: Ryan Castro y 'Westcol' aparecieron en las pantallas de Times Square por esta razón". Publimetro Colombia (in Spanish). 21 November 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  25. Vargas, Felipe Torres (13 April 2024). "WSound: Ovy On The Drums y Westcol se unen para revolucionar la música". La Mega (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  26. "Westcol recibió fuertes críticas por la vulgar letra de su nueva canción: "Irrespeta a las mujeres"". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  27. Nelken-Zitser, Joshua. "An influencer who said he'd shoot a gay son was ordered to post content about the harm caused by homophobia and transphobia". Business Insider. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  28. Tegel, Simeon (14 March 2024). "Influencer who said he would 'shoot gay son' ordered to campaign against homophobia". Telegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  29. "Streamer Westcol enfrenta tutela por declaraciones homofóbicas". El Espectador (in Spanish). 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  30. "Colombian Court Orders Influencer to Address Homophobia and Transphobia". bizcomdaily. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  31. Perry, Sophie (15 March 2024). "Influencer who said he'd 'shoot gay son' must educate followers about homophobia". PinkNews. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  32. Espectador, El (27 March 2023). "Westcol es declarado persona 'non grata' en Ibagué tras burlarse de la ciudad". El Espectador (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  33. Raigoza, Por Julián (28 March 2023). "Westcol no detiene sus ataques a pesar de haber sido declarado persona no grata en Ibagué: "Este personajillo desafortunado"". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  34. "Bukele prohíbe la entrada de Westcol a El Salvador por comentario sobre las mujeres". La Opinión (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  35. "Westcol afirma que no se arrepiente de su opinión sobre las salvadoreñas". Diario El Salvador (in Spanish). 24 September 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  36. Niño, Por Luciano (13 November 2024). "Westcol encendió las redes al presumir su más reciente adquisición: "Tengo un nuevo juguete en la casa"". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  37. Méndez, Por Juan David Botia (7 October 2024). "Duras críticas a Westcol por incluir a su nueva novia en una canción con un reconocido productor: "La brujería esta funcionando"". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  38. Fajardo, Camila Paola Sánchez (1 December 2024). "Aida Merlano responde a Westcol por enviarle un mensaje a su actual pareja y revela detalles de su relación pasada con el 'streamer': 'Sácate mi nombre de la boca'". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  39. Mukherjee, Shreyan (21 October 2024). "WestCol dethrones Adin Ross to become the most-followed Kick streamer, Stream Fighter 3 garners over 1 million live viewers". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  40. "Kick presume del récord de viewers de WestCOL: primero en superar el millón". Movistar eSports (in Spanish). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  41. "Spanish star uppercuts Kick viewership records with influencer boxing event". Dexerto. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.

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