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N3on
N3on in 2026
Born
Mikyle Rafiq[a]

(2004-08-13) August 13, 2004 (age 22)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationElkins High School
Years active2016–present
Instagram information
Page
Followers1.5 million
Kick information
Channel
Years active2023–2025, 2026–present
Followers730 thousand
Twitch information
Channel
Years active2019–2023, 2025–2026
Followers618 thousand
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers1.14 million
Views374 million
Last updated: August 25, 2026

Mikyle Rafiq[a] (born August 13, 2004), known online as N3on, is an American streamer and YouTuber. He originally uploaded YouTube videos playing games such as NBA 2K and Fortnite. In 2023, N3on began to stream on Kick and became recognized through his streams with rappers.[1]

N3on is known for his controversial persona involving staged acts and a network of a thousand paid clippers that promote a negative public perception of him to gain momentum, although he has stated that he would like to be more true to himself and pursue a more positive identity.[2][3]

N3on has ventured into crypto and gambling, acting as an ambassador for Motherland, an online casino.[4] Throughout his career, he's gotten into feuds with several media personalities.

Early life

[edit]

Mikyle Rafiq[a] was born on August 13, 2004, in Houston, Texas to Pakistani and Indian parents. His father helps him manage the money he makes from streaming. N3on is a Muslim.[5] For most of his childhood, he was afflicted by Crohn's disease, which led to him frequenting hospitals and completing much of his schoolwork online. Due to his inability to attend school in-person for periods at a time, he began to play video games, sharing a PlayStation 4 with his younger brother.[2] He attended Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, graduating in 2022.[6]

Career

[edit]

N3on first created his YouTube channel in 2016, at the age of 11, and recorded himself playing video games and making tutorials. By the time he turned 16 in 2020, he had gained popularity through his gameplay of NBA 2K and Fortnite, here he would have often have brazen and explicit outbursts. In 2019, he faked his own death.[1]

Streamer Adin Ross encouraged N3on to stream in public, leading to N3on building an audience on Twitch. In 2023, N3on moved to Kick due to higher monetization.[1][7]

In March 2024, N3on was banned from Kick after threatening to dox and sexually assault an underage fan after getting in a heated argument with them. He later released an apology video about the incident and was subsequently unbanned.[8] In April, he was arrested in Dubai after filming a police officer, spending nearly two days in jail.[2][9] In February 2025, police broke up a crowd of 200 people in Kensington, Philadelphia where N3on and rapper Skrilla were livestreaming. Skrilla was there to shoot a music video, but did not have a permit for it.[10]

In May 2025, N3on signed a record deal with Empire.[11] It followed the virality of LiAngelo Ball's song "Tweaker" after he first previewed it on N3on's livestream earlier that year.[12] In September, he joined Iggy Azalea as the co-owner of Motherland, an online casino.[13] In March 2026, Motherland was acquired by Gamdom, leading to Azalea and N3on signing ambassador contracts with the company.[4] In August of that year, N3on also signed a contract with the crypto casino Jack.com.[14][better source needed] In October 2025, N3on announced a collaborative series of EPs with Hit-Boy titled N3on x Hit-Boy Presents The Camp.[15]

N3on was arrested by police in March 2026 after attempting to enter the O Block apartment complex in Chicago, claiming that he was trying to host a giveaway for children.[16] Later in 2026, a character heavily resembling N3on appeared in the Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look video, prompting him to recreate it in real life.[17] That year, in a deal with Higgsfield, the company licensed an AI N3on avatar. N3on described the partnership as getting him a "pretty good check," noting the little effort needed.[18] On August 24, N3on provided financial support to former homeless NBA guard Delonte West.[19] On September 7, 2026, N3on announced his last livestream as he was making a change to AI streaming powered by GPT-6 Astra and Higgsfield AI.[20][21]

Content and style

[edit]

N3on's content was characterized by provocative, often controversial stunts, having been accused of transphobia in the past.[22] N3on was known for 'clip farming' and high-energy streams.[23] However, in early 2025, he reflected on his persona and shifted away from the style in favor of less extreme content.[24][23][3] Since then, N3on has collaborated with celebrities Kanye West,[25] Arman Tsarukyan,[26] Iggy Azalea,[27] Alabama Barker,[28] and Delonte West.[19] N3on also does gambling[29] and martial arts-related streams.[30][31]

Feuds

[edit]

Jack Doherty

[edit]

In March 2024, N3on criticized fellow streamer Jack Doherty, claiming that he coerced young girls into signing OnlyFans contracts. In his unsubstantiated accusation, he alleged that Doherty got 17-year-old girls drunk the night before their birthdays and then got them to sign contracts that give 50% of their lifetime earnings to Doherty.[32]

DD Osama

[edit]

In March 2025, N3on was confronted by rapper DD Osama and his entourage for disrespecting Osama's deceased brother and insulting the former; N3on apologized.[33]

Adin Ross

[edit]

Despite early encouragement,[7] streamer Adin Ross had distanced himself from N3on following his controversial incidents. Ross spoke out after N3on's arrest in Dubai in April 2024, and their relationship remained strained until January 2025. Due to N3on's personal growth and content shift, Ross publicly commended him during a January 24 stream. N3on responded to the comment on his own stream, saying "It means a lot, bro," reflecting on his friendship with Ross.[24]

Charlamagne Tha God

[edit]

In July 2025, Charlamagne Tha God and Jess Hilarious confronted N3on about racism during The Breakfast Club. Charlamagne brought up N3on's past controversial statements when he compared Kai Cenat's mother to Harriet Tubman while criticizing his allegedly racist viewers. During the interview, streamer Adin Ross allegedly commented that the hosts were trying to belittle him, prompting further pushback from the hosts.[34] Later in the conversation, the hosts gave N3on credit for holding his ground while N3on addressed his viewers writing racist comments.[35] N3on later criticized the way Charlamagne handled the interview, calling it an interrogation room.[36]

Notes

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 N3on's real name has been cited by XXL as Rangesh Mutama.[1] Business Insider originally reiterated this claim, but published a correction affirming that his name is Mikyle Rafiq.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Ech, Joey (April 11, 2025). "Who Is Neon, the Streamer Going Viral Lately With Rappers?". XXL Mag. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Moses, Lucia (April 20, 2026). "'My life is clipping': How a mix of mayhem and strategy fueled a top livestreamer's career". Business Insider. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Moses, Lucia. "This creator spent $1.4 million on 'clippers' in just over a month to try to get his content in your feed". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Gamdom Announces Acquisition of MOTHERLAND Casino and Long-Term Partnerships with Iggy Azalea and N3on". Businesswire.com. Business Wire.
  5. ↑ Burns, Anna (April 22, 2026). "American streamer N3on causes crowd chaos at Surrey's Vaisakhi Parade". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  6. ↑ Fort Bend ISD (May 28, 2022). Elkins High School | FBISD Graduation 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2026 – via YouTube. (1:32:30)
  7. 1 2 Tusing, David. "Who is N3on? The controversial streamer fans think appears in GTA 6". The National. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  8. ↑ Mock, Ben (March 14, 2024). "N3on Unbanned From Kick After Apologizing To Underage Fan He Threatened To Dox And Sexually Assault". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ Cole, Alexander (April 18, 2024). "N3on Surprises Fans With First Stream Back Since Arrest In Dubai". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Police break up crowd that gathered to see rapper Skrilla in Philadelphia's Kensington section". 6abc Philadelphia. February 26, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  11. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (May 6, 2025). "Streamer N3ON Signs Record Deal With EMPIRE". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ Gee, Andre (January 15, 2025). "LiAngelo Ball's 'Tweaker' Is a Sign of Where Rap Might Be Heading". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (September 24, 2025). "Inside MOTHERLAND: N3on and Iggy Azalea's Big Bet on Online Gambling". Complex. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  14. ↑ Johnson, Mike (August 20, 2026). "Jack.com Expands Reach with Casino Influencer and Streamer N3on". GamblingNews. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (October 16, 2025). "Viral Streamer N3on Is Dropping His Biggest Project With Hit Boy". Complex. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  16. ↑ Nevares, Gabriel Bras (May 2, 2026). "N3on Arrested While Trying To Get Into Chicago's O-Block, Fans Are Skeptical". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  17. ↑ Glaze, Virginia (August 28, 2026). "'We Made It!' — Kick Streamer Neon Responds After Rockstar Seemingly Includes a Reference to Him in GTA 6 Netflix Showcase". IGN. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  18. ↑ Bolies, Corbin (August 5, 2026). "Why Higgsfield Inked Deals for AI Avatars of Streamer N3on, UFC's Israel Adesanya and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, and More for New Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Giacomazzo, Bernadette (August 24, 2026). "N3on Hands Delonte West $50K—and a Ready-Made Streaming Career". Complex. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
  20. ↑ Ocho, Alex (September 8, 2026). "N3on Launches 24/7 AI-Generated Stream of Himself". Complex. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  21. ↑ "N3on "AI streamer" Controversy Explained As Kick Star Defends His Latest Move". NDTV Sports. September 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ Pop Culture & Art (September 21, 2024). "Trans streamer accuses N3on of transphobia | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on March 14, 2026. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  23. 1 2 Kramer, Jacob (March 11, 2025). "N3on Wants to Ditch Clip Farming and Toxic Followers". Complex. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Adin Ross ends long-standing rivalry with N3on". The Express Tribune. January 25, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  25. ↑ Saponara, Michael (April 30, 2025). "Ye Releases 'Donda 2' Album to Streaming Services for First Time". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  26. ↑ Ellis, Jordan (April 2, 2026). "Arman Tsarukyan spends $1 million on new car during live broadcast with stunned streamer N3on". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ Price, Joe (April 3, 2026). "Iggy Azalea Says Male 'Alpha' Streamers and Their Viewers Are the Real 'Soy Boys'". Complex. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  28. ↑ Price, Joe (May 22, 2026). "N3on Gets a Full Makeover From Alabama Barker During Livestream". Complex. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  29. ↑ Hale, James (April 29, 2026). "Kick gambling streamer N3on is spending millions on his army of clippers". Tubefilter. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  30. ↑ Ekberg, Maggie (December 12, 2025). "Viral Streamer N3on Hit the Octagon in the Most Unexpected Way". Complex. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  31. ↑ Thompson, Andrew (July 18, 2026). "Streamer N3on Accidentally Records Penta Without His Mask". Frightful. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  32. ↑ Mock, Ben (February 22, 2024). "N3on Accuses Jack Doherty Of Coercing Underage Girls Into Signing OnlyFans Deals". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  33. ↑ Nevares, Gabriel Bras (December 24, 2023). "DD Osama Confronts N3on For Disrespecting His Deceased Brother". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  34. ↑ Abraham, Mya (July 15, 2025). "'The Breakfast Club' Hosts Blast Adin Ross During N3on Interview, N3on Apologizes To Kai Cenat". VIBE. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  35. ↑ Trapp, Malcolm (July 15, 2025). "N3on Addresses His Livestream Chat After "The Breakfast Club" Hosts Go In On Adin Ross". REVOLT. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
  36. ↑ Price, Joe (July 24, 2025). "N3on Takes Aim at Charlamagne Tha God After 'Breakfast Club' 'Interrogation'". Complex. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
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