Update: Leslie Benzies has denied the allegations in a statement to Kotaku.
Rockstar Games‘ co-founder and president Sam Houser has been name dropped in the Epstein files along with former GTA producer Leslie Benzies. Within the files, the latter is accused of sexual assault.
The duo’s inclusion has created quite the conversation on social media with some fans assuming this will delay GTA 6. However, it is important to look at what was actually said in the files and understand the situation. We’ll be doing that in this article.
What Is In The Files?
Late on Friday night, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released over 3 million new pages relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Twitter users were quick to begin name searching these files of rich and famous people to see if they are referenced in them. Some users soon found a mention of Rockstar’s Sam Houser and Leslie Benzies within a document containing claims by one of Epstein’s victims Sarah Ransome. To be clear, the mentions do not suggest they had any contact or connection with the criminal.
On the page of interest, there is an email from Ransome dated December 9th 2023. She alleges former GTA lead producer and ex-Rockstar North studio head Leslie Benzies sexually assaulted her. She went onto say “That shit had to come from somewhere, why not the guy that helped invent GTA!!”
She also claims she met Rockstar Games co-founder and current president Sam Houser multiple times during her relationship with Benzies. Furthermore, she indicates potential foul play behind the scenes at Rockstar noting “the time has come about what you and your Rockstar North boys really get up to behind the scenes. I’m surprised there has yet to be a class action for you guys alone!!”. Though there is no evidence at this moment in time and this is all, once again, allegations.
You can read the full Rockstar-mentioned section here:
Leslie Benzie (seeming as if he invented the throwing of money at a “prostitute” on me, then sexually assaulted me afterwards…kids, that’s what drugs do, then used it in video games for entertainment for millions of people!!! That shit had to come from somewhere, why not the guy that helped invent GTA!! Leslie also visited me in NY and knew what was happening and gave me the money to book my ticket to NY when I arrived on the 1st of September 2006 – check his bank records)
Sam Houser, (You met me ample times when dating Leslie, and now the time has come about what you and your Rockstar North boys really get up to behind the scenes. I’m surprised there has yet to be a class action for you guys alone!!) – Sarah Ransome
Benzies’ employment at Rockstar ended in 2016 and a very public legal battle ensued over unpaid royalties. He is credited for leading production on the Grand Theft Auto games including as an artichect of GTA Online. Emails from the legal battle sent exchanged between himself and Houser show he helped lead Red Dead Redemption over the finish line.
Since his departure from Rockstar, he created his own game development studio Build A Rocket Boy. It released a game, Mindseye, to extremely low reviews last year. As of now, Build A Rocket Boy are continuing to support Mindseye and its community with new updates for the game.
We’ll have to wait and see if any of the parties involved respond to the allegations. Be sure to stay tuned to RockstarINTEL for all the latest news on Rockstar Games and GTA VI.
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thanks for info.