Earlier this month the University of Washington disinvited the popular streamer after questions arose about the school’s internal process for choosing speakers.

A university spokesperson has said the Office of Public Lectures had an informal agreement for Piker to speak. But the office never sent a speaking contract, and ultimately pulled back its invitation. Piker, in a statement on X, suggested his strong criticism of Israel played a role in the cancellation.

Over the years, Piker has made controversial statements like, “America deserved 9/11.” He later called that sentiment a “dumb” oversimplification of his views.

Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, referenced that statement when saying why he reached out to the university.

“I’m very wide on the Overton window when it comes to political discourse,” Corry said, referencing a concept of what the general public considers to be acceptable at a given moment in history. “And I argue on the side of free speech.”

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Corry and Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, said they each reached out to UW’s governmental affairs representatives to relay their concerns.

In an email, UW spokesperson David Rey wrote: “No such concerns from lawmakers regarding this event were relayed to the Office of Public Lectures, which made the decision not to proceed with the event on its own.”

Leavitt echoed Corry’s sentiments about the distinction between a student-run speaking engagement and the university’s lecture series, saying it would be fine for a student group to bring Piker.

“Bringing him as part of the lecture series would create a firestorm for UW, I think,” said Leavitt, who relayed that concern to a university representative. “I didn’t say, ‘Don’t do it.’ I can’t direct the university what to do, in that regard, but I certainly expressed my strong concerns.”