Poker staking and gambling are at the heart of a lawsuit launched by popular YouTube bodybuilder, Jujimufu, against his former friend and editor, Tom Boyden, with claims that Boyden “siphoned” more than $100k from their business accounts…
The end of a partnership
Jujimufu, real name Jon Call, is a well-known acrobatics, tricking and bodybuilding expert who appeared in a viral splits video and on America’s Got Talent Season 11.
Boyden is a videographer who partnered with Call in 2016, the pair quickly building one of the most popular YouTube channels in its genre with over 1.2 million subscribers.
However, the lawsuit over alleged misappropriation of funds, much of it rumoured to involve Boyden’s poker and gambling, has seen them split acrimoniously.
Call released this video on the separation, explaining: “Collaboration with Tom is no longer possible.”
Details from the lawsuit were soon being discussed on Twitter, Reddit and poker forums such as 2plus2, with fans of Jujimufu less than enamoured by Boyden’s alleged actions…
I don’t know why people liked Tom boyden. He’d been toxic to Juji from the get go. Good things ahead pic.twitter.com/x3qb9KCvAd
— Nes (@NestorG_18) March 20, 2021
Jujimufu’s claims
The tl;dr from the lawsuit and multiple lengthy threads reveals the following claims.
- Boyden allegedly siphoned over $100,000 to “at least in part” to feed his gambling addiction and stake other poker players
- The total Boyden is alleged to have taken inappropriately or illegally is claimed to be $119,459.08 and included payments to
- WSOP.com
- Global Poker
- Aria Casino
It has also been alleged that on January 14 and 18th of this year, Boyden allegedly withdrew money from their ‘Grip Genie’ PayPal account, believed to have been used to stake Shaun Downey for a poker tournament.
Boyden has a Hendon Mob listing showing $42,283 in live tournament winnings. These include a career-best 3rd spot worth $25,218 coming at the 2016 Wynn Summer Classic $530 buy-in tournament.
There is also a $16,179 cash from last year’s WSOP Circuit Main Event from the Hard Rock Tampa, and four small cashes at last year’s WSOP Online festival.
Boyden is a fanatical poker player who has appeared alongside popular poker vlogger, self-confessed degenerate gambler, and WSOP bracelet winner Ryan Depaulo in his YouTube videos.
He also shows up in a testimonial for the Elite Poker Coaching website, alongside Depaulo, claiming their coaching has “turned a YouTuber into a winning tournament player in a matter of months.”
A deleted apology video
The lawsuit, filed back in January by Jujimufu and business partner, Erin Borsodi, on behalf of Grip Genie LLC., was for a “Verified Complaint and Motion for Temporary Restraining Order.”
According to reported court documents, Thomas Boyden is being charged on four counts for a Mandatory Complex Business Case. The counts are Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Constructive Fraud, Embezzlement and Breach of the Agreement.
There were also suggestions that Boyden erratic behaviour crossed certain acceptable lines. The affidavit stated: “Defendant has a history of aggressive outbursts that sometimes verge on violence…”
In an apology video, since deleted, Boyden stated: “I have never come close to endangering anyone nor have I threatened to do so. To my knowledge there has been zero police involvement in this matter. Frankly, I’m struggling with understanding the entirety of the situation and how things got to this point.”
