Arcade gamer Billy "King of Kong" Mitchell has secured a significant legal victory, winning nearly a quarter of a million dollars in damages after a court found Australian YouTuber Karl Jobst guilty of 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!" The video, which garnered 500,000 views, was deemed by the court to contain inaccurate and unsubstantiated claims against Mitchell.
Mitchell's gaming legacy was previously challenged when his scores were removed from Twin Galaxies' leaderboards in 2018. This action followed allegations that he used a MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) rather than arcade cabinets to achieve his records in games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong Jr., a practice that violates the rules. After a prolonged defense of his records, Mitchell successfully had his accolades reinstated in a "historical database" on Twin Galaxies' website, and his high scores were also recognized again by the Guinness World Records in 2020.
However, Mitchell's defamation lawsuit against Jobst was not related to the controversy over his Donkey Kong scores. Instead, it stemmed from Jobst's 2021 video, which allegedly implied that Mitchell's earlier lawsuit against YouTuber Benjamin "Apollo Legend" Smith led to Smith paying $1 million in damages and contributed to his suicide in 2020. The video also reportedly suggested Mitchell had expressed joy at the thought of Smith's suicide.
Following legal threats from Mitchell, Jobst edited the video, and Smith's brother confirmed that no money had been paid. Jobst later admitted on X/Twitter that he had relied on incorrect information from multiple sources and did not accuse Mitchell of cheating. Despite his efforts, Jobst acknowledged his loss, stating, "The judge found Billy to be a credible witness and believed his entire testimony."
Jobst expressed his regret and gratitude for the support he received, emphasizing his commitment to repaying his supporters. He also highlighted his resolve not to be silenced, saying, "I am proud that I never backed down and never allowed a bully to control my free expression."
The court ordered Jobst to pay $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 gaming community was solidified not only by his perfect score in Pac-Man in the '80s but also by his portrayal in the 2007 documentary, King of Kong, which highlighted his rivalry with Steve Wiebe.
