why is theo von being sued

Theo Von is being sued for $30 million by Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, known as "Kai the Hitchhiker." The lawsuit is related to a viral interview Theo conducted with Kai back in 2013, where Kai told the story of saving a woman from an attacker. Kai alleges the interview and its portrayal contributed to his personal and legal troubles, including his later murder conviction. More specifically, the lawsuit centers on viral deepfake videos where Theo Von's face was swapped onto Kai's in the iconic "smash smash smash" video meme. Although Theo did not create or upload these deepfakes, Kai is holding him responsible for the damages and emotional distress caused by these portrayals, which allegedly harmed Kai's reputation and potential earnings. Theo Von learned of the lawsuit during a live podcast and has expressed surprise, maintaining that the interview was conducted in good faith. The legal case is ongoing.