Patreon Stands Firm Against Takedown Notice for YouTuber’s Lego Investigation: ‘Bricks & Minifigs Can Stuff It’

The ongoing saga involving YouTuber Reckless Ben, the Oregon branch of Bricks & Minifigs, and the American Fork police department in Utah has captured the internet’s attention, with many fans rallying around Ben as he seeks to recover a family’s $200,000 Lego Star Wars collection.

In a surprising twist, Jack Conte, the CEO of Patreon, has thrown his support behind Reckless Ben by announcing that the platform will not be removing his videos, despite a request for immediate content removal from Bricks & Minifigs.

For those needing a recap, the situation has escalated dramatically. Reckless Ben has reportedly fled to Mexico after a “mystery” no-bail arrest warrant was issued by the American Fork police, who Ben claims may be protecting Joshua Johnson and Brandon Best, the owners of the Oregon store, due to their connections with the Mormon church.

Since our last update, two significant developments have emerged. First, Bricks & Minifigs has filed a lawsuit against Ben and Bryan Mansell, the owner of the missing Lego collection. The lawsuit accuses them of orchestrating a “coordinated multi-platform campaign” filled with “false accusations, fabricated claims, deceptive practices, and manufactured confrontations” aimed at extorting money and damaging the company’s reputation.

The timing of these events is crucial. The latest update in the lawsuit, a verified motion to “compel mediation and then arbitration,” was filed on May 27 and references Reckless Ben’s content on Patreon. Conte’s video addressing the situation was uploaded on June 2, indicating he is aware of the lawsuit’s implications.

Conte also pointed out that the takedown notice from Bricks & Minifigs was issued on May 29, right after the lawsuit update. This context makes it even more intriguing that Conte has publicly rejected the takedown request, potentially inviting Bricks & Minifigs to escalate their legal battle against Patreon.

“After an extensive review and investigation by Patreon’s Trust and Safety team, we have, in fact, unfortunately determined that Bricks & Minifigs can stuff it,” Conte declared. “We’re keeping Ben’s page up, and if Bricks & Minifigs doesn’t like that, they can sue us. Patreon out.”

While it’s a bold move for Conte to make such a statement, it also seems like a savvy business decision. If Bricks & Minifigs were to win a lawsuit against Patreon, they might gain some financial compensation. However, removing Reckless Ben’s content could lead to a backlash that would harm the Patreon brand far more than any potential payout from the lawsuit. Plus, this stance positions Conte as a hero in the eyes of the online community, at least for the moment.