Creator IShowSpeed faces a lawsuit after being accused of striking and choking the popular humanoid Rizzbot

IShowSpeed and Rizzbot: Livestream Incident Leads to Legal Battle

In September, renowned streamer IShowSpeed broadcasted his encounter with Rizzbot, a well-known humanoid influencer. Rizzbot has amassed over a million followers and 800 million views across various social platforms, gaining popularity for its humorous banter and irreverent gestures. IShowSpeed, on the other hand, boasts a massive audience of more than 50 million followers and 6 billion views, recognized for his energetic and sometimes controversial livestream antics.

Their meeting took a dramatic turn, which has now become the focus of a lawsuit. Social Robotics, the creators behind Rizzbot, filed a legal complaint in November against Speed (whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr.), his management company Mixed Management, and another producer present during the incident. According to the petition, Speed’s actions caused severe and lasting harm to Rizzbot.

Footage from the livestream and details in the lawsuit claim that Speed struck Rizzbot multiple times in the face, placed it in a chokehold, pinned it to a couch, and eventually threw it to the floor.

The legal filing asserts, “Speed was fully aware that such treatment of an advanced robot was inappropriate and would result in irreversible harm to Rizzbot. These actions led to the complete destruction of the robot.”

According to the petition, the robot suffered a total loss of function, with extensive damage to its mouth and neck. The document further alleges that Rizzbot’s head cameras stopped working, the sensor ports at the back of its neck became nonfunctional, and the robot lost its ability to walk properly.

Social Robotics is seeking compensation for both actual damages and lost profits, though their legal team has not disclosed the specific amount being pursued.

The incident prompted a call to the Austin Police Department. As noted in both the petition and a police report, officers observed damage to Rizzbot that occurred without the owner’s permission, and the owner expressed a desire to press charges. The investigation remains ongoing.

Requests for comment from Speed’s management team went unanswered.

Joel Levine, attorney for Social Robotics, explained that the lawsuit was filed after negotiations with Speed’s team regarding compensation for the robot’s destruction failed to reach a resolution.

“Since the entire event was streamed live, there’s little dispute about what happened,” Levine told TechCrunch. “We’re simply seeking accountability.”

The petition accuses Speed of acting recklessly and unlawfully taking control of Rizzbot, resulting in the robot’s inability to participate in lucrative opportunities, including planned appearances with CBS’s The NFL Today and MrBeast.

“This is a significant blow to Rizzbot’s viral momentum and potential earnings,” the petition states. “Being featured in a MrBeast production is comparable to appearing in a Super Bowl commercial.”

Before the incident, Rizzbot reportedly generated over 600 million views on TikTok and 200 million on Instagram in a single month. In the four weeks following the event, the robot was unable to create new content, resulting in a drop of more than 70% in viewership. The petition claims that this deliberate destruction has caused lasting financial harm, given the fast-paced nature of social media fame.

Levine noted that Speed’s side has yet to formally respond to the lawsuit and that the case is still in its early stages. When contacted, Rizzbot shared with TechCrunch via email that it had to be completely rebuilt after the incident.

“Everything’s brand new except for my Nike sneakers and cowboy hat,” Rizzbot said in a statement. “I’m back online, feeling more confident than ever, and soon I’ll be working on advanced moves—maybe you’ll catch my dancing skills on TV soon. Stay tuned!”