A popular YouTube star and musician will incur a massive financial loss. Ryan Upchurch has been ordered to pay $17.5 million following a defamation lawsuit against him. The Nashville-born comedian and singer drew backlash after making serious claims about a 2022 disappearance.
The family of the person who vanished took issue with Ryan’s conspiracy theories and took him to court over the matter. Ryan had suggested that the family was involved in a GoFundMe scam during this painful time.
Ryan Upchurch lost his case over Kiely Rodni’s conspiracy videos
Ryan’s online claims on YouTube have him in a world of financial trouble. Local Nashville news station WSMV4 confirmed the ruling. Daniel Rodni and David Robertson filed the suit against him after the scam claims were made. Daniel’s daughter, Kiely, went missing following a party in the Tahoe National Forest in California in August 2022. Her body was later found inside her SUV in a nearby lake. David is her grandfather. Authorities say there was no evidence of foul play.
The attorneys for Daniel and David accused Ryan of causing emotional pain during a difficult time for the family. They add that his allegations caused reputational damage. The case also focused on true crime content online and whether commentary in viral videos constituted defamation.
Despite the ruling against him and all the bad press he’s gotten, Ryan is said to feel sadness towards Kiely’s family. His attorney released a statement saying he feels “sympathy for a family in their time of grief.” The statement adds that “freedom of speech is one of the most fundamental rights that is necessary for every free society.”
This ruling came months after another prominent missing person’s case ended tragically. Lil Jon’s son, DJ Young Slade’s body was found in a park in Georgia, not long after he’d been reported missing. Ryan’s released numerous studio albums while his YouTube videos generate plenty of views, mostly in the six-figure range or higher.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE $17.5 MILLION FINE ON RYAN UPCHURCH IS JUST?
