‘Baddest streaming service on Earth’: Florida resident sues Netflix over Jake Paul, Mike Tyson matchup
A class-action lawsuit claims Netflix breached its contract and misled users, reporting an ‘unwatchable’ livestream on November 15, despite knowing the event would attract massive attention.
A man from Florida is taking legal action against Netflix for streaming problems during the high-profile event featuring boxing icon Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul.
The class-action suit was initiated in Hillsborough County, Florida, by Ronald “Blue” Denton, who alleges that Netflix violated its contract and deceived viewers by providing an “unwatchable” stream during the fight on November 15.
According to the lawsuit, shared with YSL News on Wednesday, the streaming platform failed to deliver a satisfactory viewing experience during an event anticipated to attract a large audience.
“Sixty million Americans were eager to witness ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Instead, they experienced ‘The Baddest Streaming on the Planet,’” stated the lawsuit.
As of Wednesday, Netflix had not responded to YSL News’s request for a statement.
Hundreds of thousands of grievances
The lawsuit also claims that over 100,000 users expressed their dissatisfaction online.
“Fans of boxing, along with many Americans eager to watch a legend potentially in his final bout, encountered significant issues, such as access denial, streaming disruptions, and buffering delays,” the lawsuit elaborated.
During the match, numerous viewers experienced buffering problems, as reported by YSL News. Additionally, many noted a decline in video quality as the fight progressed.
The complications extended beyond quality issues; viewers were unexpectedly shown Tyson’s backside after an interview in his locker room.
Tens of millions tuned in
According to Netflix, the highly anticipated clash between Tyson and Paul peaked with over 108 million viewers globally, marking it as “the most-streamed sporting event in history.”
The broadcast was watched in 65 million households concurrently in the U.S., representing 56% of the total viewership in the country. While Netflix branded the event a groundbreaking triumph, the lawsuit presents a different narrative.
It asserts that viewers “did not receive what they expected,” with many missing all or parts of the match.
