Gaming Icon Billy Mitchell Wins Defamation Suit Against YouTuber Karl Jobst

Esports icon Billy Mitchell has emerged victorious in a defamation lawsuit against YouTuber Karl Jobst, with the District Court of Queensland in Australia awarding him nearly $400,000 AUD (over $250,000 USD) in damages.

The court found that Jobst’s public statements, including falsely blaming Mitchell for the suicide of another YouTuber, Apollo Legend, caused Mitchell both emotional and physical harm.

Mitchell, renowned in the gaming world and featured in the documentary “The King of Kong,” previously held world records in Donkey Kong and Pac-Man dating back to the 1980s. In 2017, he was accused of cheating on his Donkey Kong world records by using an emulated version rather than the original arcade version of the game. Video game database Twin Galaxies investigated and revoked Mitchell’s scores, leading Guinness World Records to disqualify Mitchell from his Donkey Kong and Pac-Man records.

Jobst made a variety of claims, including accusing Mitchell in a 2021 video of “pursuing unmeritorious litigation” against those who accused him of cheating, including Apollo Legend. Jobst falsely claimed Apollo Legend committed suicide as a result of the “stress” of being required to pay Mitchell “a large sum of money.” 

Mitchell pursued the defamation case to protect his professional reputation.

“I felt it was necessary to defend my name and professional reputation in the face of false and damaging allegations,” Mitchell said. “I appreciate the Courts careful consideration of the facts and am thankful for the unwavering support of my family, friends, and legal team throughout this process.”

Judge Ken Barlow noted that Jobst’s actions went beyond mere commentary, highlighting his “obvious pleasure” in attacking Mitchell and his “gleeful anticipation” of litigation, as well as the negative impact on Mitchell’s well-being. The ruling includes damages, interest, and an order for Jobst to cover Mitchell’s legal costs, which will be determined in a future hearing.

Jobst’s statements included direct attacks against Mitchell, such as a post reading “F Billy Mitchell,” along with statements suggesting he was legally protected based simply on his location, such as “Im in Australia so good luck.”

Currently, Mitchell is featured in “Arcades and Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day,” a documentary followup to “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” exploring classic arcade culture.