IShowSpeed is facing a lawsuit over damage he allegedly caused to Rizzbot during a livestream back in September.
The streamer, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., is being sued alongside Mixed Management and Ames Ward by Rizzbot’s developer, Social Robotics, LLC., which is seeking $1 million in monetary relief. The company claims Speed got “intentionally physical with Rizzbot.”
Filed on Dec. 8, the lawsuit says the incident happened on Sept. 16 when Speed met the Rizzbot in Austin. According to the complaint, he became “angry and agitated” after interacting with the robot and “intentionally assaulted” it until it broke.
In the moment referenced in the lawsuit, Speed is seen putting the robot in a chokehold as it makes goofy noises. He yells, “Stop fucking talking shit,” and even tells it that it’s going to die. When Rizzbot responds by calling Speed its father—a playful nod to Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back—the streamer punches the robot in the face twice.
The lawsuit claims Speed’s actions left Rizzbot irreparably damaged, rendering it a total loss and forcing the cancellation of future opportunities, including a planned co-hosting gig with MrBeast and an appearance on The NFL Today Show on CBS.
“This is no doubt a monumental setback for the RizzBot in terms of viral momentum and financial gain from the exposure. Being in a MrBeast production is akin to being in a Super Bowl commercial,” the suit states.
IShowSpeed’s lawsuit arrives just days before the premiere of his new short film about mastering the ancient art of kung-fu, directed by Daniel Wolf in partnership with Beats.
