The Donkey Kong champion, Billy Mitchell, has emerged victorious in a defamation case against YouTuber Karl Jobst. A court in Brisbane ruled in Mitchell’s favor, ordering Jobst to pay $350,000 in damages.
Judge Ken Barlow found that Jobst had made five defamatory statements, including claims that Mitchell cheated to achieve the high score in Donkey Kong. The court also considered Mitchell’s 2020 lawsuit against another YouTuber, Ben Smith, also known as Apollo Legend, a significant factor in Smith’s decision to end his life.
As a result, Jobst must pay $300,000 in damages and an additional $50,000 for releasing a video that mocked Mitchell’s lawsuit.
Consequences and Reactions
Following the ruling, some of Jobst’s followers started a fundraising campaign to help him pay the damages. Jobst expressed gratitude and apologized to his followers on his personal X page, promising to work hard to make it up to them someday.
On the other hand, Mitchell celebrated his victory with a post on X, saying, “nothing smells better than victory in the afternoon” and thanking his supporters for standing by him.
Karl Jobst
The case has sparked discussions about the consequences of online defamation and the responsibility that comes with having a large following on social media. According to The Guardian, the ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving online harassment and defamation.