Alyssa Mercante Challenges Melonie Mac to a Fight (Again)

Alyssa Mercante Challenges Melonie Mac to a Fight, But Only Behind a Keyboard

Kotaku Senior Editor Alyssa Mercante is at it again, throwing her weight around like she’s some kind of tough-guy after challenging YouTuber and streamer Melonie Mac to a fight. But here’s the twist—Mercante’s bravery seems to disappear as soon as it’s time to back up her tough talk.

It all started with Mac posting on X, saying, “For everyone who cried when we used words like retard and faggot, we did what we had to do because we refused to be silenced. It was always about control. Retard faggot.” Mercante, apparently feeling brave behind her keyboard, couldn’t resist responding with some of her usual fiery rhetoric: “We knew more than half the country has brain worms and black hearts, but they want to remind us.”

But wait, there’s more. Mercante then took it a step further, seemingly challenging Mac to a fight by saying, “Come to NY and say that to my face bb girl.” What a shocker—this online warrior is ready to throw hands from the safety of her screen, but let’s see how this played out.

Mac, always ready to clap back, didn’t hold back and fired back at Mercante with: “I got challenged to a fight by a hobbit. I would literally have to punch down.” Yeah, no surprise here—Mercante, acting all tough behind the keyboard, now looked even more ridiculous.

The irony here is that Mercante isn’t new to making empty threats. She previously challenged people during an appearance on Giant Bomb, claiming, “I want people in the industry to be a little bit louder about people being mean to other people… Maybe say we don’t want you around if you’re going to be a ct and hateful... and if you have a problem with that, come fight me, physically, b*h.”

Now, when people actually took her up on it, what did she do? Mercante immediately chickened out and started making excuses. When YouTuber Vara Dark accepted the challenge, calling for a $1,000 bet and a public loser announcement, Mercante pulled a classic bait-and-switch, saying, “I’m not a YouTube rage peddler. Vara has already been using me to make money and get views, she’s not doing it for this.” Funny how all that ‘tough talk’ gets replaced with whining when it’s time to step up.

Mercante’s excuse for ducking the fight? She wouldn’t fight unless the match was for charity. This would be all fine and good if she wasn’t the same person who initially made the challenge for personal clout, but when it’s time to walk the walk, suddenly it’s about 'principles' and not wanting to 'help grifters.' It’s almost as if she doesn’t want to risk embarrassing herself publicly, which—let’s be real—would’ve happened faster than her latest article.

So let’s break this down: Alyssa Mercante, the self-proclaimed voice of reason and tough defender of gaming culture, loves to talk tough when she’s hiding behind a screen. But when it’s time to actually back up those claims in real life, she shrinks into a corner and starts hiding behind excuses and lame, self-righteous lectures.

Mercante, you can keep typing all day, but until you stop hiding behind your keyboard and actually face people who disagree with you, you're just another wannabe tough-guy on the internet—loud, obnoxious, and ultimately, completely laughable.