{"id":178355,"date":"2025-12-06T23:33:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T23:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/178355\/"},"modified":"2025-12-06T23:33:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T23:33:07","slug":"creator-ishowspeed-sued-for-allegedly-punching-choking-viral-humanoid-rizzbot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/178355\/","title":{"rendered":"Creator IShowSpeed sued for allegedly punching, choking viral humanoid Rizzbot"},"content":{"rendered":"

In September, popular creator IShowSpeed<\/a> live-streamed his meeting with the popular<\/a> humanoid influencer Rizzbot.<\/p>\n

Rizzbot<\/a> 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. <\/a>\u00a0Speed, meanwhile, has more than 50 million followers (and 6 billion views<\/a>) across various platforms and is known for his dramatic behavior while livestreaming.<\/p>\n

What happened when the two parties met is the subject of a lawsuit that Rizzbot\u2019s creators, Social Robotics, detailed in a petition filed in November against Speed, n\u00e9 Darren Jason Watkins Jr., his management company, Mixed Management, and another producer who was with Speed\u2019s team that day. The petition, obtained by TechCrunch, alleges that Speed inflicted \u201cirreparable damage\u201d to Rizzbot.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit alleged that \u2014 and the livestream video<\/a> shows that \u2014 Speed repeatedly punched Rizzbot in the face, put it in a chokehold, at one point pinned it to the couch, and threw it to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeed absolutely knew that this was not an appropriate way to interact with a sophisticated robot and knew that such actions with inflict irreparable damage to Rizzbot,\u201d the petition read. \u201cThese actions resulted in the total loss of the Rizzbot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The petition read that Speed\u2019s handling of the robot caused \u201ccomplete loss of functionality,\u201d and that Rizzbot had \u201csignificant damages\u201d to its mouth and neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdditionally, the head cameras no longer function, the ports behind the neck which connect to robot\u2019s sensors that allow it to see and hear are dead, and the robot is unstable and cannot walk straight any longer,\u201d the petition alleges. The petition is asking for compensation for damages, including actual and lost profit, though Rizzbot\u2019s legal team declined to comment on the dollar amount the owner is seeking.<\/p>\n

Techcrunch event<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSan Francisco
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOctober 13-15, 2026\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The Austin Police had to be called after the incident, according to the petition and a police report obtained by TechCrunch. The responding officer noted damages to Rizzbot done without the owner\u2019s \u201cimplied consent,\u201d and that the owner wanted to press charges. The petition states that an investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n

Speed\u2019s management team did not respond to TechCrunch\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n

When reached, Social Robotics\u2019 lawyer, Joel Levine<\/a>, said the lawsuit came after talks stalled with Speed\u2019s team regarding how to compensate Rizzbot\u2019s owner for the damage done to the robot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was an event that was live-streamed so there\u2019s not a ton of discrepancy as to the facts,\u201d Levine told TechCrunch. \u201cWhat we\u2019re looking for is some accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n

The petition said that Speed \u201cfailed to act as a careful, reasonable, and prudent person,\u201d and that he \u201cwrongfully exercised control over,\u201d Rizzbot. It also said that as a result of the destruction, the team behind Rizzbot has lost out on economic opportunities since Rizzbot is indefinitely unable to partake in high-profile appearances and deals, including scheduled upcoming ones with CBS\u2019s The NFL Today and Mr. Beast.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is no doubt a monumental setback for the Rizzbot in terms of viral momentum and financial gain from the exposure,\u201d the petition said. \u201cBeing in a MrBeast production is akin to being in a Super Bowl Commercial.\u201d<\/p>\n

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, the petition alleges that Rizzbot was unable to make new content and therefore saw a more than 70% decrease in viewership. The \u201cintentional destruction of Rizzbot caused significant financial damage that is likely permanent given the viral nature of social media,\u201d the petition read.<\/p>\n

Levine said there has been no formal answer to his plaintiff\u2019s suit just yet and noted that they are still in the very early stages of litigation. When asked for comment, Rizzbot told TechCrunch via email it had to get \u201ca whole new body\u201d after Speed \u201cwrecked\u201d its last one.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s brand new except my Nike kicks and cowboy hat,\u201d Rizzbot told TechCrunch in a statement. \u201cNow I\u2019m back online, and I feel like I\u2019ve mastered the rizz game, and next I\u2019ll be working on complex movements with my legs, like twerking \u2013 hopefully you\u2019ll see my gyrating hips on some new TV appearances shortly \u2013 stay tuned, fam.\u201d<\/p>\n