MindsEye studio boss threatens legal action against YouTuber as co-CEO Leslie Benzies denies Epstein allegations: 'I have never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor have I ever visited his island'

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The "cease and desist" demand was posted to the MindsEye Discord just minutes after Cyber Boi's video went live.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Leslie Benzies in the winners room during the BAFTA Games Awards 2025 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on April 08, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Fearon/BAFTA via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Former Rockstar North CEO and current Build a Rocket Boy co-CEO Leslie Benzies has denied allegations of involvement with billionaire pedophile and human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, saying in a statement provided to Kotaku that "these allegations are false."

Benzies' statement comes a few days after Build a Rocket Boy co-CEO Mark Gerhard issued a "formal cease and desist demand" to YouTuber Cyber Boi on the MindsEye Discord, just minutes after Cyber Boi released a video noting that Benzies is mentioned in the Epstein files.

(Image credit: Mark Gerhard (Discord))

The video, which we have not seen, has since been taken down: "They threatened legal action," Cyber Boi wrote on his own Discord. "Can't be arsed with the drama of it all."

The timing of the cease and desist may have been coincidental, as Gerhard’s message focuses on alleged leaks of confidential company information, rather than the Epstein files.

Gerhard’s accusation of "media manipulation, espionage, sabotage, or interference" recalls a previous incident, when Gerhard claimed in May 2025 that "a concerted effort to trash the game and the studio" was being made in an attempt to derail the release of MindsEye. His comments were interpreted by some as implying that the sabotage was being financed by Rockstar, though Gerhard did not explicitly name Rockstar in this context. Rockstar has not responded to these allegations. Benzies himself later made similar allegations.

I don't know what else was in Cyber Boi's since-removed video, but references to Leslie Benzies in the Epstein files are a matter of public record and can be found with a simple search on the US Department of Justice website.

PC Gamer has seen no evidence to support Gerhard’s allegation of criminal conduct against Cyber Boi. The timing of the cease and desist in relation to his now removed video may be coincidental, as Gerhard’s message focuses on alleged leaks of confidential company information.

Gerhard previously drew attention to himself in May 2025 when he claimed "a concerted effort to trash the game and the studio" was being made in an attempt to derail the release of MindsEye. His comments were interpreted by some as implying that the sabotage was being financed by Rockstar, though Gerhard did not explicitly name Rockstar in this context. Rockstar has not responded to these allegations. Benzies himself later made similar allegations.

Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

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