A Suspicious Move Amid Legal Drama
Former Kotaku Sr. Editor Alyssa Mercante, who has recently filed a lawsuit against me for covering her disgraced role in the video game industry has now been caught red-handed deleting tweets in bulk, as revealed by Social Blade. Huge shoutout to Hypnotic for the catch, and exposed first on Saturday Night Hypnosis!
The timing of her aggressive digital purge couldn’t be more suspicious, given her recently filed lawsuit against me that heavily focuses on defamation claims. It all raises serious questions about her motivations behind her actions and the legal implications they carry.
Tweets That Sparked Controversy
Many YouTubers, including myself, have critiqued Alyssa’s behavior and contributions to the gaming industry.
Her past tweets, which range from crass admissions about contacting my wife trying to disrupt our marriage, to how she allegedly entered the industry (she once stated she got in by "sucking dick")...
To similarly abhorrent remarks, painted a troubling picture of her public persona. These have all been deleted now...
While it’s unclear whether her tweets were meant as jokes, the intent really doesn't matter in a court of law; her content reflects poorly on her professionalism and character. She even admits that she was a cam girl, and in that same tweet, directly implies that she was a sex worker:
Unsurprisingly, her poor publicly-facing behavior has garnered significant backlash from the gaming community, with many creators reacting to her posts and discussing how figures like her have negatively contributed to the industry’s poor reputation. In response, Mercante has now somehow claimed offense at this coverage, playing that victim card once again - despite it all being based entirely on her own public statements. Now, with the sudden deletion of so many of these incriminating tweets, it looks like she’s attempting to erase the very evidence that exposed her own hypocrisy.
Shocking...
Legal and Ethical Ramifications
Deleting tweets amid ongoing legal disputes is not just questionable... but could also be illegal. On a recent Valliant Renegade livestream, I discussed this matter directly with my lawyer, Ron Coleman.
Coleman elaborated further on X, emphasizing how such actions undermine the integrity of any legal proceedings.
According to Coleman, the deletion of tweets that could serve as evidence in a legal case could be considered obstruction of justice, a serious offense with federal implications.
The continued reckless behavior from Mercante suggests to everyone that she has either a massive lack of understanding of legal processes... or, more likely... this is a desperate attempt to cover up incriminating material.
A Pattern Among Industry Insiders
Interestingly, Alyssa Mercante isn’t the only one engaging in this behavior... But let's start with her:
As discovered by Hypnotic and exposed on a live episode of Saturday Night Hypnosis, other industry figures like Kim Belair, CEO of Sweet Baby Inc., Ash Parrish of The Verge, and even the organization Black Girl Gamers have been caught deleting tweets at an extremely alarming rate—sometimes hundreds in a single day. All of this coinciding with the lawsuit being filed against me. Strange timing, to say the least...
Ash Parrish:
Kim Belair:
Black Girl Gamers:
These above mentioned accounts have been known to operate within the same clique, often supporting each other over the past year in any public-facing narratives. The synchronized nature of all these deletions raises eyebrows: what exactly are they trying to hide? Is this an orchestrated effort to shield themselves from scrutiny, or a response to potential legal challenges on the horizon? I'm no judge, but it sure seems likely...
The Bigger Picture
This situation highlights a broader issue within the gaming industry: a continued and ongoing SERIOUS lack of any accountability among prominent figures. When public personalities make controversial statements and then later attempt to erase them without taking responsibility, it fosters a growing mistrust and damages the credibility of the industry as a whole. This is exactly what we are fighting against.
For Alyssa Mercante, this incident isn't surprising, coming from her. It adds yet another layer of complexity to her already beyond questionable reputation that she continues to create for herself. Her attempts to erase the past are not only futile but also extremely incriminating, painting her as someone unwilling to own up to her actions, while at the same time, attacking and lashing out at others with lawsuits for daring to bring attention to the very actions she herself made. The gaming community deserves transparency, not gross coordinated cover-ups.
Are People Really This Stupid?
The mass deletion of tweets by Alyssa Mercante and her peers tells me that there’s way more to this story than meets the eye. Whether it’s an attempt to hide evidence, silence critics, or prepare for future legal battles, one thing's for sure: the gaming industry’s self-appointed gatekeepers are feeling the heat... and in the long run, will crumble.
As this ridiculousness unfolds, it’s important to continue to hold individuals like Mercante accountable for their actions, both past and present. Transparency and honesty are the bedrock of any industry’s credibility, and the gaming world is no exception by any stretch. Deleting tweets won’t erase the truth—it only makes the questions louder.
We all see it happening, Alyssa. You aren't fooling anyone.
~Smash
