Speedrunner Apollo Legend found dead, suicide video leaked

Multiple sources have confirmed that YouTube speedrunner Benjamin “Apollo Legend” Smith has been found dead in his home after an apparent suicide. 

Reports indicate that police entered his house and confirmed that he was deceased. While there was no cause of death released to the public, Apollo Legend had previously sent out a suicide video. In the seven-minute video, Apollo Legend revealed deteriorating mental health and medical conditions that were going to have him hospitalized. The speedrunner stated that he chose to commit suicide rather than be hospitalized. 

In the confession, Apollo Legend also blamed fellow YouTubers DarkViperAU and EZScape for pushing him to the edge and past his breaking point. Both YouTubers had made videos accusing Apollo Legend of being a liar and making up details about YouTube’s ad revenue. They also teased him for allegedly making up stories about other speedrunners. 

Apollo Legend was often under scrutiny for his video practices. He lost a lawsuit in 2019 after he was sued by Billy Mitchell for using voice and video recordings he’d taken at an event held in Florida. The video recordings captured Mitchell lying about his Donkey Kong speed runs, but it was determined that Apollo Legend’s secret recordings were made illegally. Some in the speedrunning community also questioned the validity of Apollo Legend’s claims. 

Apollo Legend was also criticized for standing up for fellow speedrunner RWhiteGoose after he was banned from Awesome Games Done Quick. After RWhiteGoose was banned for continuing to stand up for white supremacy and making racist comments, Apollo Legend decided to make a video defending the controversial speedrunner. In the video, Apollo Legend accused AGDQ for banning “different views.” 

Apollo Legend found dead following controversies

After all of the controversy, Apollo Legend quit YouTube. He hasn’t made a video or made much use of social media since the summer of 2019. 

Despite the controversies he’d been involved in, the majority of the speedrunning community was still saddened and shocked by the apparent suicide. Some have even sought to place blame on DarkViperAU and EZScape for Apollo Legend’s death. DarkViperAU reportedly private many of his videos following these events. 

“Over the last 12 months, other Youtubers made expose videos on him trying to label him as a horrible guy. I agree that all YouTubers deserve criticism, including Apollo. But he was a good guy,” Keemstar tweeted. 

On DarkViperAU’s Twitter, the gamer has mostly been discussing Minecraft speedrunning since the incident. 

Many in the gaming community have called on others to stop blaming the two YouTubers for Apollo Legend’s death. It was generally agreed that Apollo Legend had most likely had been struggling with mental health for quite some time. 

No official statements have been released about the streamer’s death. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.