Crypto influencer blows off FTX court hearing, mocks lawyer with pig picture
A crypto influencer skipped court in a lawsuit accusing him of promoting the now-failed crypto exchange FTX, and is now trolling lawyers and the court with photos posted from a beach in the Bahamas.
Ben Armstrong, known as “BitBoy Crypto” online, is being sued by former FTX clients who claim he promoted the sale of unregulated securities through the recently bankrupt exchange. Former clients are seeking more than $1 billion from Armstrong and other popular YouTubers they claim were paid to promote the failed business. (Armstrong has denied promoting FTX.)
Armstrong, who boasts 1.45 million subscribers on YouTube, appeared unfazed by the proceedings. On Thursday, when he was ordered to appear by U.S. Magistrate Judge Melissa Damian, he posted a photo on Twitter from the Bahamas and wrote: “I’ll be in court today. I’m not. Why? Because I don’t give AF.”
He later fired back at plaintiffs’ attorney Adam Moskowitz, posting one picture with a pig and writes: “GUYS I SUPPOSE TERMS BUT STILL RUN ON ADAM MOSKOWITZ AND WE SET UP!”
Thursday’s hearing was to focus on Armstrong’s conduct in the case and Moskowitz’s claims that he has been repeatedly threatened and harassed. According to the court order, Moskowitz claims Armstrong made numerous phone calls to his law firm, posted abusive and threatening messages on Twitter and YouTube, and sent emails threatening Moskowitz and his family.
“After being put under oath, Mr. Moskowitz testified that he was in fear for his personal safety and the safety of his family due to the persistent communications, messages and threats allegedly made by Defendant Armstrong against Moskowitz, his family and his law. firm,” wrote the judge. (Armstrong has denied calling Moskowitz or threatening his safety.)
An attorney who appeared in court on Armstrong’s behalf said his client was aware of the hearing and was “unable to explain why his client had not appeared as directed,” according to the order. The lawyer, Jason Rindeau, argued that any threats made by his client were “threatening”.[s] of litigation,” not of physical harm, and that his social media posts were protected by the First Amendment.
Damian dismissed the First Amendment argument, writing that free speech “cannot be used as a shield to defend harassing, threatening and dangerous behavior such as that involved here.” She ordered Armstrong to appear in person in court on April 24 or face sanctions, including contempt.
Armstrong gave his own reasons for his absence in one tweet thread Friday, said he was on a cruise with 100 people who had paid to join him and that it was unreasonable to expect him to show up in Florida on such short notice. He denied calling Moskowitz or threatening his safety, adding that he “never promoted FTX or even had contact with any employee or marketing agency about it.”
“I am being falsely accused in a lawsuit that is taking up my time where there is a zero percent chance that I will not eventually be dismissed,” he wrote. “It’s almost as if the whole point of being included had been for a media circus.”
Armstrong did not respond to Twitter and text messages for further comment.
FTX collapsed last November, wiping out $8 billion in client funds in just days. It filed for bankruptcy later that month. The company is said to have received back around 5 billion dollars of these funds, but whether and how quickly they will be returned to customers is still unclear.
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Moskowitz, meanwhile, is pursuing several proposed class-action lawsuits against alleged FTX promoters, including a $5 billion lawsuit against celebrities Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Brady, Steph Curry and Larry David for allegedly supporting the exchange.
Moskowitz’s company made headlines earlier this week for serving O’Neal in front of his house after the basketball star allegedly evaded service for months. (O’Neal previously said he was not involved in the exchange and was “just a paid spokesperson for a commercial.”)
“FTX were PR and marketing geniuses and knew that such a massive Ponzi scheme – bigger than the Madoff scheme – could only be successful with the help and promotion of the most well-known, respected and loved celebrities and influencers in the world,” Moskowitz said to CBS at the time.
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