Podcaster Ordered to Pay Over $40,000 After Defamatory Livestream Claims
Court Finds Defamation in Incest Allegation
Spencer Butts, a podcaster based in Hamilton, Ontario, was found liable for more than $40,000 in damages and legal costs after a livestream in which he claimed that conservative podcasters Ryan and Tanya Davies were biological siblings, a statement he linked to their nine‑year‑old son’s autism.
Damages and Legal Costs Awarded
Ontario Superior Court Judge AJ Goodman ordered Butts to reimburse the Davies $20,000 in legal costs and awarded them $25,000 in damages, bringing the total financial judgment to over $40,000.
Defendant’s Response and Appeal Plans
Butts, who represented himself in court, did not submit any materials in response to the judgment and has announced that he intends to appeal the order.
Context of the Defamatory Statements
The remarks were made on April 17, 2025, during a livestream that analyzed the Federal Returning Officers debate, where Butts said the Davies “could very well be brother and sister” and repeatedly called them “crooks,” “scammers” and “stooges,” including a social‑media post alleging they were “begging for money for a child who doesn’t need it.”
Court’s Assessment of Reach and Impact
The original livestream was watched live by just over 100 people and did not measurably affect the subscriber growth of the Northern Perspective YouTube channel, which rose from about 154,000 subscribers in March 2025 to more than 240,000 by the time of the decision.
Goodman noted that the couple’s public response amplified the reach of the defamatory claims, meaning more listeners heard the accusations than those who watched the original stream.
Attorney’s Comments on Precedent
James Kitchen, the Davies’ attorney, said the judge’s reasoning creates a troubling precedent, arguing that a larger platform should not silence a plaintiff and that the court system remains the best venue for addressing online disputes despite its flaws.
Kitchen also expressed skepticism toward the federal Liberal government’s proposals to regulate “online harms,” while noting that several right‑wing influencers have voiced support for Butts, warning that the case could chill open discussion.
Broader Implications for Free Speech
Conservative content creator Clyde Do Something, now living in Texas, warned that the lawsuit may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and said he has personally faced threats of legal action over his digital content.
