EAST ST. LOUIS - Video game writer Chris Avellone claims a Belleville woman tarnished his reputation and career when she made false sexual harassment claims, and the social media posts went viral.
Avellone, of California, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against defendant Karissa Barrows, citing defamation.
According to the lawsuit, Avellone and Barrows were acquainted and socialized infrequently at gaming conventions. After Avellone became involved with one of Barrows' friends, Barrows allegedly began to send hostile messages to Avellone and published false and defamatory statements accusing him of being a sexual predator, preying on minors, sexually assaulting Barrows and her friends, and misappropriating company funds. Avellone claims that these statements have severely damaged his reputation and career.
Avellone states that he is a writer for computer games and that he met Barrows for the first time at a gaming convention called "Dragon Con" in Atlanta in August 2012. He claims they socialized, flirted with each other and kissed, but that things did not go further than that. He claims they remained friendly and kept in touch. He alleges the defendant was interested in pursuing a relationship with him, but they never did. Throughout their friendship, Barrows made numerous complimentary posts about him on Twitter, which inferred that she wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with him, according to Avellone.
In 2013, the lawsuit states that Barrows introduced Avellone to her close friend, Jackie Izawa, who struck up a casual relationship with Avellone for about one year. Avellone alleges that during this time, Barrows constantly interfered in their relationship and sent him hostile text messages demanding they end their relationship, according to the lawsuit.
In 2014, the three of them attended Dragon Con together, but Barrows' messages allegedly became increasingly hostile. Avellone claims he decided to cut off communication with Barrows, blocked her number and distanced himself from Izawa because of her friendship with Barrows.
According to Avellone, on June 18, 2020, Barrows replied to a Twitter post from gaming website IGN promoting an interview with Avellone, which included his full name and photograph. In her post she called him a "sexual predator" and accused him of "preying on young women," and "getting them drunk & taking them to hotel rooms," along with other unprofessional behavior. She also claimed that he had misappropriated company funds and that he had been blacklisted from industry conventions.
She made further posts in the same vein through June 20, which went viral. Avellone adds that Barrows deleted all her posts that were complimentary towards him, including one that said she had never been abused or harassed at gaming conventions.
Avellone alleges numerous gaming studios that he worked with terminated his contracts as a result of the viral messages. He claims Barrows made allegations that she knew were false to hurt his reputation and damage his career. Avellone adds that Barrows' actions have inflicted severe emotional distress on him.
Avellone is seeking damages in excess of $75,000 plus court costs, attorney fees and any other relief the court deems proper. He also demands injunctive action requiring Barrows to retract all false and defamatory statements. He is represented in this case by attorneys with Palmersheim, Mathew, LLP in Chicago.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:22-CV-2247