Billy Mitchell Triumphs in $237K Defamation Suit Against YouTuber

Arcade gaming legend Billy "King of Kong" Mitchell has secured a significant victory in court, winning nearly a quarter of a million dollars in damages after successfully suing Australian YouTuber Karl Jobst for defamation. As reported by PC Gamer, Jobst, known for his content on competitive and speedrunning gaming, featured Mitchell in a video titled "The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!" which amassed 500,000 views. The court found that Jobst's video contained defamatory content against Mitchell, including inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims.

Mitchell's gaming legacy came under scrutiny in 2018 when his records were removed from Twin Galaxies' leaderboards amid allegations that he used a MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) instead of arcade cabinets to achieve his high scores in games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong Jr., a practice that violates the rules. After a six-year battle, Mitchell managed to have his records reinstated in a "historical database" on Twin Galaxies' website, and his high scores were also recognized again by the Guinness World Records in 2020.

Billy "King of Kong" Mitchell has won a defamation lawsuit against Australian YouTuber Karl Jobst. Photo by David Greedy/Gett

Mitchell's defamation lawsuit against Jobst was not related to the validity of his Donkey Kong scores but stemmed from Jobst's 2021 video, which suggested that Mitchell's earlier legal action against YouTuber Benjamin "Apollo Legend" Smith led to Smith paying $1 million in damages and contributed to his suicide in 2020. The video also allegedly implied that Mitchell had expressed joy at the thought of Smith's death.

Following legal threats from Mitchell, Jobst edited the video, and Smith's brother later confirmed that no money had been paid. Jobst acknowledged his defeat on X/Twitter, stating, "I lost. The judge found Billy to be a credible witness and believed his entire testimony." He clarified that he did not accuse Mitchell of cheating and that his claims about Smith were based on "incorrect information from multiple sources."

Jobst expressed his regret and gratitude for the support he received, emphasizing his determination to continue his work. He also proudly stated that he never backed down and refused to let a "bully control my free expression." In a subsequent update, Jobst reflected on the situation.

The judge awarded Mitchell $187,800 (AU$300,000) for non-economic loss, $31,300 (AU$50,000) for aggravated damages, and $22,000 (AU$34,668.50) in interest, totaling around $241,000. The judge noted that Mitchell could have been justified in seeking more than AU$50,000 in aggravated damages but adhered to the amount Mitchell requested.

Mitchell's fame in the arcade gaming world was cemented with his perfect score in Pac-Man during the '80s and further highlighted in the 2007 documentary, King of Kong, which detailed his rivalry with Steve Wiebe.