Brooklyn Bishop Sues YouTubers for $20 Million Over Defamation Claims

Bishop Lamor Whitehead, a prominent Brooklyn bishop, is suing YouTuber DeMario Jives and online personality Larry Reid for $20 million, alleging defamation and slander. The lawsuits, filed in Kings County court, stem from online comments made by Jives and Reid accusing Whitehead of scamming and gang affiliations. According to the lawsuits, these accusations caused Whitehead to lose business deals and church members. "Their false and defamatory statements have caused me significant damage," Whitehead said in a statement. Jives, whose full name is DeMario Q. Jives, claimed on his YouTube channel that Whitehead was wearing the same jewelry that was stolen in a recent robbery. Reid allegedly said online that Whitehead "will be locked up in about three months." Both men's comments, the lawsuits state, were "all false, defamatory and slanderous." The lawsuits seek no less than $20,000,000 in damages. The case highlights the impact of online comments and the potential legal consequences of spreading false information.