Billy Mitchell Wins $237K in Defamation Suit Against YouTuber Karl Jobst

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 focus on competitive and speedrunning gaming content, featured Mitchell in a video titled "The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!" which garnered 500,000 views. The court ruled that Jobst's video contained defamatory, inaccurate, and unsubstantiated claims about Mitchell.

Mitchell's reputation had previously been tarnished in 2018 when his scores were removed from Twin Galaxies' leaderboards amid allegations of using a MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) instead of arcade cabinets to set records in games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong Jr., a practice that violates the rules. However, after a six-year battle, Mitchell managed to have his accolades reinstated in a "historical database" on Twin Galaxies' website. Additionally, his high scores were 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/Getty Images.

Mitchell's defamation lawsuit against Jobst was not directly related to the validity of his Donkey Kong scores but stemmed from claims made in Jobst's 2021 video. Mitchell alleged that the video implied his previous lawsuit against YouTuber Benjamin "Apollo Legend" Smith forced Smith to pay $1 million in damages and contributed to Smith's tragic suicide in 2020. Additionally, the video reportedly suggested Mitchell had expressed joy over Smith's death.

After Mitchell threatened legal action, Jobst edited the video, and it was later confirmed by Smith's brother that no financial settlement had been paid. Jobst admitted 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 regarding Smith were based on "incorrect information from multiple sources."

Jobst expressed his disappointment and apologized to his supporters, emphasizing his commitment to repaying their support. He also highlighted his stance against intimidation, stating, "I am proud that I never backed down and never allowed a bully to control my free expression."

The judge ordered Jobst to pay $187,800 (AU$300,000) for non-economic loss damages, $31,300 (AU$50,000) for aggravated damages, and $22,000 (AU$34,668.50) in interest, totaling approximately $241,000. The judge noted that while Mitchell could have justified a higher amount for aggravated damages, the awarded sum was based on Mitchell's request.

Mitchell, who achieved a perfect score in Pac-Man during the '80s, gained widespread fame through the 2007 documentary, King of Kong, which documented his rivalry with Steve Wiebe.