Billy Mitchell, a prominent American arcade gaming champion, has been awarded $350,000 in damages following a defamation lawsuit against Australian YouTuber Karl Jobst. Jobst had posted a video that remained online for 15 days, suggesting that Mitchell’s legal actions against another creator had left a young man, known as “Apollo Legend,” deeply in debt and alluding to the tragic circumstances of his death by suicide.
In his ruling, Judge Ken Barlow stated that Jobst’s video had significantly harmed Mitchell’s reputation and caused him considerable distress. He described Jobst’s assertions as “reckless,” noting they were rooted in a false premise that the deceased YouTuber had paid Mitchell a substantial amount.
The legal battle began when Mitchell, who is now 59, filed his lawsuit in September 2021 in the Brisbane District Court. He gained fame in the 1980s and 1990s for his high scores in classic arcade games like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man. During the trial, Mitchell shared that the video had negatively impacted his professional opportunities, including lucrative gigs at gaming conventions. He described feeling physically ill upon watching the video, which he claimed unfairly suggested he had harassed a young man leading to his suicide.
The court heard testimony that Jobst’s video had reached an audience of over 500,000 viewers. Judge Barlow indicated that Jobst harboured malice towards Mitchell, exacerbated by his repeated postings of the video and his refusal to issue a direct apology. Jobst had previously produced content questioning Mitchell’s integrity in achieving his gaming scores, which further fuelled the animosity between them.
Barlow clarified that the court did not seek to adjudicate the truth of the cheating allegations, but noted Jobst’s apparent obsession with undermining Mitchell’s reputation. He referenced a prior statement by Jobst where he expressed a desire to “destroy” Mitchell in court, indicating a personal vendetta rather than a pursuit of justice. The judge likened Jobst’s intent to that of a knight seeking glory in defeating a “dragon,” implying his efforts fell short of achieving their intended outcome.
Although Mitchell sought $400,000 in damages, the judge deemed this amount excessive given the circumstances but still acknowledged the seriousness of the defamation. Ultimately, he awarded Mitchell $300,000 in non-economic damages and $50,000 in aggravated damages, along with accruing interest and coverage of legal costs.
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