Checking out the Rattle Pokemon defense fund

Best Vintage Cards, LLC and entrepreneur Sean Bassik are suing Canadian YouTuber Rattle Pokemon (government name Michael Barristo) in Maricopa County, Arizona. The lawsuit (CV2024-000498) is for Defamation, False Light, Tortious Interference, and Civil Rico.

I am not a lawyer, nor a legal expert

Even though I was an avid watcher of LA Law back in the day, I’m not a lawyer. I will leave the legal analysis on the merits of the case to others who are qualified to do so.

In general, lawsuits require money. Like many YouTubers who find themselves in need of money, Rattle Pokemon created a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money from his audience for his legal defense.

From the fundraiser’s poorly written description:

Fundraising campaign for Rattle Pokemon and others to defend themselves against any current and future SLAPP lawsuits that have and/or could be filed by the individual targeting them. As usual, this is in retaliation to information shared about his association with fraud in collectibles. This individual is currently and has previously bullied many with similar threats whenever those people share information that doesn’t make him look good.

Rattle Pokemon’s videos about Sean Bassik are disappearing

I don’t remember when the GoFundMe campaign began. I looked for the video Rattle Pokemon made about the lawsuit and the fundraiser, but it no longer appears on the channel. For whatever reason, many of Rattle Pokemon’s videos are no longer viewable on his channel.

Of the 28 videos listed under the Sean Bassik playlist, only two are viewable. The rest show to be deleted or hidden.

Getting back to the fundraiser, what I find fascinating is how little money it’s generated. I’ve watched different YouTubers engage in e-begging and I’ve never seen one as unsuccessful as Rattle Pokemon’s legal defense fund.

As of today, the Rattle Pokemon Defense Fund has generated $5,635 CAD from 137 donations. In USD, that number equals $4,148.91.

I think Rattle Pokemon might have been more successful with his fundraiser if he set the goal lower than $100,000 CAD. That large amount might have scared off a number of would be contributors. It seems excessive, especially considering he has not yet hired a lawyer. According the court documents, Rattle Pokemon is representing himself.

I think Rattle Pokemon would have done much better if he had set the goal to $10,000 CAD. That amount seems a lot more reasonable. It would not look like a giant cash grab like it does now.

I guess e-begging isn’t as easy as it looks.

Update (10 May 2024)

I just took a look at Rattle Pokemon’s GoFundMe and as of today he has raised a total of $6,745 CAD ($4,933.60 USD) from 151 donations.