In September, popular creator IShowSpeed live-streamed his meeting with the humanoid influencer Rizzbot. Rizzbot has more than a million followers and 800 million views across social media and is known for its comedic roasting of subjects, as well as giving people the middle finger. Speed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., has more than 50 million followers and 6 billion views across various platforms and is known for his dramatic behavior while livestreaming.
What happened when the two met is the subject of a lawsuit that Rizzbot’s creators, Social Robotics, detailed in a petition filed in November against Speed, his management company, and another producer present that day. The petition, obtained by TechCrunch, alleges that Speed inflicted irreparable damage to Rizzbot.
The lawsuit alleged, and the livestream video shows, that Speed repeatedly punched Rizzbot in the face, put it in a chokehold, pinned it to a couch, and threw it to the ground. The petition stated that Speed absolutely knew this was not an appropriate way to interact with a sophisticated robot and that his actions would cause irreparable damage, resulting in the total loss of the Rizzbot.
According to the petition, Speed’s handling of the robot caused a complete loss of functionality. Rizzbot sustained significant damages to its mouth and neck. Additionally, the head cameras no longer function, the ports behind the neck which connect to the robot’s sensors are dead, and the robot is unstable and can no longer walk straight.
The petition is asking for compensation for damages, including actual and lost profit. Rizzbot’s legal team declined to comment on the specific dollar amount being sought.
The Austin Police were called after the incident, according to the petition and a police report. The responding officer noted damages to Rizzbot done without the owner’s implied consent, and that the owner wanted to press charges. The petition states that an investigation is ongoing.
Speed’s management team did not respond to a request for comment. When reached, Social Robotics’ lawyer, Joel Levine, said the lawsuit came after talks stalled with Speed’s team regarding compensation for the damage. Levine told TechCrunch that since the event was live-streamed, there is not much discrepancy about the facts, and that they are looking for accountability.
The petition said that Speed failed to act as a careful, reasonable, and prudent person and wrongfully exercised control over Rizzbot. It also stated that the destruction has caused the team behind Rizzbot to lose out on economic opportunities, as the robot is indefinitely unable to partake in high-profile appearances. This includes scheduled upcoming deals with CBS’s The NFL Today and Mr. Beast. The petition compared being in a MrBeast production to being in a Super Bowl commercial.
The petition read that in the month before the livestream, Rizzbot generated more than 600 million views on TikTok and 200 million on Instagram. In the 28 days after the incident, however, it alleges Rizzbot was unable to make new content and saw a more than 70% decrease in viewership. The intentional destruction caused significant financial damage that is likely permanent given the viral nature of social media.
Levine said there has been no formal answer to the suit yet and noted they are in the very early stages of litigation. When asked for comment, Rizzbot told TechCrunch via email it had to get a whole new body after Speed wrecked its last one. Rizzbot stated that everything is brand new except its Nike kicks and cowboy hat, and that it is back online and working on complex movements for future TV appearances.