What prompted Australia to cancel Sneko’s visa? The streamer responds with a bold clarification (Image via Getty)
Controversial streamer Nico Sneako De Balenzazi, known online as Sneako, became part of a major controversy this week after reports claimed Australia has banned him from entering the country for life.
On May 5, 2026, several Australian media outlets reported that Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had canceled the American broadcaster’s visa. Reports also claimed that he was banned for life over comments and online content deemed hateful by authorities. The story first gained attention after Sky News Australia reported that Tony Burke had canceled Sneko’s visa and banned him from applying for future visas.
According to the report, Burke said: “Our government has made it very clear that we will use every force at our disposal to protect our community from people who come to this country to spread hate.”The situation quickly spread across social media, especially after clips from Australian news bulletins began circulating online. Some commentators on television questioned how Senyaku was allowed into the country in the first place, pointing to his past controversies and internet bans.
The streamer later reposted one of the clips himself, sarcastically writing: “Thanks for having me, Australia.”
Niko Snikko denies being deported after reports of Tony Burke’s visa ban spread online
While reports of the lifetime ban continued to grow, Nico Sneko disputed the allegations regarding X. The streamer said he had not been deported and explained that his trip to Australia had already ended naturally.In one of the videos shared online, Sneko was seen talking to a fan before boarding a plane. During the interaction, the fan asked how many likes the collaboration would take.
“A million,” Snico replied. Moments later, he added: “I have to get on the plane… I have to get on the plane.”The streamer later shared another post from inside the plane while responding directly to the reports. “I was not deported from Australia. My tour in Southeast Asia ended and I stopped in Sydney and Melbourne to meet friends, hold meetings and then return home,” he wrote.Sneko also reposted a headline claiming that Australian authorities had “expelled” him from the country.
In response to that report, he simply wrote: “No, I’m just going home.”At this time, Australian officials have not publicly released additional documents about the reported lifetime ban. For this reason, there is still confusion online as to whether Sneako officially faces permanent restrictions on returning to Australia in the future.
