Grand Theft Auto star is ‘swatted’ during livestream of him playing infamous video game – as he lashes out at ‘a**holes’ who leaked his private data online
Grand Theft Auto actor Ned Luke was ‘struck’ for the sixth time while livestreaming the popular game on Thanksgiving.
Luke, who played the character of Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto Five, had been broadcasting the game on Thursday when the incident occurred.
The 65-year-old took a call during his stream and told viewers: ‘Okay, I gotta go, now these holes have destroyed my house.’
Swatting is a term used to describe hoax calls made to report serious crimes that trigger an aggressive response from authorities.
In Luke’s case, it was “the fire brigade this time,” he claimed.
Luke, who appeared here on Thursday, was called during the broadcast before telling his viewers that he had been punched
Luke had voiced the character of Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto Five, seen here in the game
Following the incident, Luke said on social media site
“Everyone is doing well, thank you for your concern. This is the SIXTH time we’ve been beaten, but points for originality, this time they sent the fire brigade.
‘There’s nothing nice or clever or funny about it. And in a way, I feel sorry for the individual or group of individuals who pull these pranks.
“That said, authorities are searching and have key evidence in their hands that will hopefully lead to the basement of this pasta-eating clown’s mother.
“Guys like this…I’ve known them all my life. They are there to annoy, annoy and infuriate. IF YOU ALLOW THEM.
‘I won’t let them. While many of you have shown great concern for my family, and we appreciate that, it really isn’t necessary. We’re doing well. We are well prepared for this.’
The 65-year-old took a call during his stream and told viewers: ‘Okay, I gotta go, now these holes have destroyed my house’
Grand Theft Auto 5 earned Rockstar more than $6 billion in revenue, with Luke’s character on the right side of this billboard at the Figueroa Hotel in Los Angeles
The voice actor added, “Finally, let me repeat with complete clarity. You don’t matter. You are nothing more than one of those many pimples on your butt that you are constantly picking at.
‘So enjoy your time. Believe me. It will end soon enough. In the meantime, stay in Mom’s basement. I’m sure there’s plenty of pasta left to be eaten.’
Luke also reiterated that his information did not come from the livestream or the game, adding that it had been leaked previously.
Due to an increase in the number of hoax calls, the FBI this year set up a national database specifically for swatting cases.
Fox news reported that the agency recorded more than 200 incidents between May 1 and September 21.
An FBI spokesperson told the newspaper: “The FBI takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people in danger.
“We will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to collect, share and respond to threat information as it comes to our attention.”
Luke isn’t the first gamer to be bashed on livestream, with Fortnite player Kyle Giersdorf falling victim to the hoax in 2019.
In a recorded video, Giersdorf’s father can be heard telling the teen to stop playing the popular video game when police pulled up outside.
Police later said the caller “told authorities he was Kyle and said he had shot his father multiple times with an AK-47 and tied up his mother in the garage.”
Luke seen here reiterated that his information was not obtained from the live stream or from the game, adding that it had previously been leaked
Due to an increase in the number of hoax calls, the FBI this year set up a national database specifically for swatting cases
It comes as Rockstar Games, the developers of the famous Grand Theft Auto series, said they would tease the latest installment next month.
While not much is known about Grand Theft Auto 6, hackers released gameplay of the new version in 2022 – months after Rockstar Games confirmed it was in development.
The unprecedented leak contains over an hour of footage of heists, gunfights and open-world driving, and was posted to the GTAForums message board over the weekend.
Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, told an investor call in May 2023 that their 2025 plans will set “new standards in our industry.”
GTA 5 is known to have earned Rockstar more than $6 billion in revenue, but GTA 6 is already expected to generate $1.7 billion in revenue, according to a Goldman Sachs analyst.