Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a popular YouTuber and Kick streamer, is reportedly being sued by a man who claims he was wrongfully accused of being a predator in one of Vitaly’s “catching predator” videos. The lawsuit has garnered significant attention after attorney Jason Morrin shared screenshots of court documents on social media, naming Zdorovetskiy as the defendant.
Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, known for his IRL (in real life) broadcasts, has built a reputation for confronting alleged sexual predators on his channel. His approach involves luring these individuals into meetings with decoys posing as minors and then exposing them on camera. However, one such incident has led to legal repercussions.
According to Morrin, the plaintiff, identified as Daniel Prieto, has filed a 17-count lawsuit against Vitaly, alleging defamation, libel, invasion of privacy, and more. The core of Prieto’s complaint revolves around a video posted on TikTok titled “Predator Take Downs,” in which he claims to have been wrongfully depicted as a predator. Prieto asserts that he was subjected to both physical and mental abuse during the encounter, which he describes as a “vicious attack.”
The lawsuit’s claims include accusations of entrapment and malicious editing. Morrin’s posts suggest that Prieto believes the video was manipulated to portray him falsely, thus damaging his reputation and inciting public outrage. A portion of the court document highlights these concerns: “In the viral video, Defendant is shown supposedly catching a predator—Plaintiff—in a sting operation to catch predators. The video depicts Defendant and his camera crew chanting ‘certified lover boy, certified pedophile’ and then stating that the person whom Plaintiff met was a ’15-year-old boy, dude.'”
The IRL streaming genre has seen a surge in popularity on platforms like Kick, with many creators engaging in various forms of live content to attract viewers. Vitaly’s predator sting operations have become particularly popular, even leading to collaborations with other notable streamers like SteveWillDoIt. Despite this popularity, the legal ramifications of such content are becoming increasingly apparent.
While the specific video in question has not been definitively identified, Prieto’s allegations suggest that he was entrapped and misrepresented by Vitaly and his team. The plaintiff contends that the edited footage was intended to ruin his reputation, leading to severe personal and public consequences.
As of now, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. The streaming community is closely watching the developments of this case, which underscores the potential legal risks associated with confrontational and entrapment-based content.
This lawsuit adds to the ongoing discourse about the ethical and legal boundaries of IRL streaming, particularly when it involves serious accusations and personal confrontations. As Vitaly navigates this legal challenge, the outcome could have significant implications for how such content is produced and regulated in the future.