Kotaku Senior Editor Alyssa Mercante threatened to take legal action against YouTuber Smash JT claiming he’s emboldening harassment against her.
Alyssa Mercante via Blerd Without Fear! YouTUbe
Mercante’s threat came in response to YouTuber MasteroftheTDS, who hosts the Gothic Therapy channel, implying that Mercante is a hypocrite. Mercante posted to X, “Some chud paid for my sister’s domain name and is emailing her and me for comment on ‘my actions.’ Anyway tell me again how this isn’t a harassment campaign comprised of obsessive losers with too much free time.”
MasteroftheTDS shared a screenshot of the post and commented, “So it’s only okay when Alyssa does it. If anyone else does it’s harassment.”
So it’s only okay when Alyssa does it.
If anyone else does, it’s harassment. pic.twitter.com/ATBdVfVdzx
— MasteroftheTDS (@MasteroftheTDS) May 17, 2024
MasteroftheTDS is referring to Mercante sending DMs to Smash JT’s wife. Mercante posted to X earlier this month, “Anyway I found your wife’s Facebook and asked what she thinks about the father of her children harassing a woman online and laughing when she shares that someone they’re supporting has been threatening to kill them for weeks.”
Alyssa Mercante on X
In response to MasteroftheTDS’ pointing out Mercante’s hypocrisy, Smash JT posted, “Well well well… Driving down what was presumed to be a one-way street. Should have checked the signs. I DO NOT condone the actions of anyone doing this to ‘get back’ at her… but goddam is it funny af to witness her short circuit on real-time contradiction.”
Well well well…
Driving down what was presumed to be a one-way street. Should have checked the signs.
I DO NOT condone the actions of anyone doing this to ‘get back’ at her… but goddam is it funny af to witness her short circuit on real-time contradiction. https://t.co/mdUAgZTw0O pic.twitter.com/xWH1WkyU4m
— Smash JT (@SmashJT) May 17, 2024
Mercante responded to this post threatening legal action. She wrote, “There is a person in this thread impersonating my sister, likely the same person who made a website about her and has been emailing her from it. You “condemning this” then laughing about it and sharing content from it in your videos makes people think it’s okay.”
She added, “DMing your wife after you’ve been harassing me for weeks is not remotely comparable to this. If you do not stop centering me in your content and emboldening these people to harass me, I will be forced to take legal action.”
Alyssa Mercante on X
She later added, “I don’t want to have to go this route but I am prepared to. You will not bully me off of the Internet and you will not platform people who are stalking my family.”
In a subsequent post she also shared, “If you see an account impersonating me or my family members or sharing sensitive information DO NOT INTERACT, the engagement will boost their visibility. Report, block, move on. DM me if you see fit.”
Alyssa Mercante on X
Smash JT responded to the threat of legal action writing on X, “The X account for Alyssa Mercante has suggested they may take legal action against Smash JT regarding my coverage of developing stories in the video game industry. At this time, Smash JT has received no direct communication nor request for edit, redaction, deletion, nor any other modification to the videos or articles in question.”
He continued, “As with all my good-faith conversations, I am happy to consider rebuttal of facts if they have been made in error. Currently, I do not know what specific statements Alyssa Mercante might believe to be false or ‘harassing’. My coverage uses screen captures of, in this case, her own words to substantiate a perspective. Furthermore, it’s difficult to reconcile a person who proclaims it is ‘dehumanizing’ (far beyond ‘harassment’) when facts are being discussed. The irony is strong, coming from a supposed ‘journalist’ employed at Kotaku. She has proven to constantly avoid giving the full story to her audience, and is now trying to silence the real truth about her.”
Jeff aka Smash JT via Smash JT YouTube
“It is particularly interesting that of all the channels covering her indiscretions, Alyssa is choosing to single me out. The inferences made by Alyssa Mercante imply a threat to silence, and I do not take those threats lightly, nor will I be bullied off this platform,” Smash JT asserted.
“I will continue covering this story in an upcoming video, with additional information, facts, and screenshots to (once again) prove my point. It is exhausting, but I will not stop. I seek the truth for the betterment of the entire video game industry,” he concluded.
He then shared his Change.org petition to have Kotaku shut down. The petition currently has 3,960 signatures as of writing.
A statement from Smash JT:
The X account for Alyssa Mercante @Alyssa_Merc has suggested they may take legal action against Smash JT regarding my coverage of developing stories in the video game industry.
At this time, Smash JT has received no direct communication nor request…
— Smash JT (@SmashJT) May 18, 2024
What do you make of Mercante’s threat of legal action against Smash JT?
Alyssa Mercante needs to stop playing victim. She was(and still is) the real aggressor.
I don’t really know how she managed not to get fired from Kotaku yet. I’m sure it’s an ongoing thing while the boss is protecting himself from a lawsuit brought by this lunatic.
That is, Alyssa actually wants to say that harassing people by harassing their relatives is only okay when you do it on your own behalf, right?
Un flushed toilet with the lid left open. That’s all I see.