IShowSpeed faces legal battle after shocking incident with viral humanoid Rizzbot

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by Tech Crunch, click this post to read the original full article.

In September, I had the opportunity to witness a live-streamed meeting between popular creator IShowSpeed and the humanoid influencer Rizzbot, who boasts over a million followers and 800 million views on social media. Known for its comedic roasts, Rizzbot became the focus of a lawsuit filed by its creators, Social Robotics, in November against Speed, his management company, and another producer present during the incident. The lawsuit alleges that Speed inflicted “irreparable damage” to Rizzbot during their encounter.

The petition claims that Speed engaged in inappropriate physical actions, such as punching Rizzbot, putting it in a chokehold, and throwing it to the ground, which resulted in significant damage to the robot’s functionality. According to the lawsuit, Rizzbot suffered severe damage, including issues with its mouth, neck, and head cameras, leading to its instability and inability to walk straight. The creators are seeking compensation for damages, although they have not disclosed the specific amount.

Following the incident, the Austin Police were called, and a report indicated that the damages were inflicted without the owner’s consent, prompting the owner to consider pressing charges. Social Robotics’ lawyer mentioned that discussions regarding compensation had stalled, leading to the lawsuit as a means to seek accountability for the destruction of Rizzbot. The petition also notes that the incident has resulted in a significant loss of economic opportunities for Rizzbot, hindering its ability to participate in high-profile appearances.

In the month leading up to the incident, Rizzbot had enjoyed substantial viewership on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. However, the petition claims that after the livestream, Rizzbot experienced a drastic decline in viewership, with more than a 70% decrease. As the litigation is still in its early stages, Rizzbot humorously remarked that it had to get a “whole new body” after the incident, expressing excitement about returning to online appearances and future projects.