Ned Luke, best known for voicing protagonist Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto V, fell victim to an alarming and, unfortunately, very common harassment tactic last week. While live streaming GTA Online gameplay on Thanksgiving evening, Luke received notification that police had arrived at his residence responding to a swatting incident. He abruptly ended the stream upon realizing the disturbing situation.
For the uninformed, swatting refers to an illegal practise where someone makes a false police report to purposefully prompt an aggressive law enforcement response at a specific address. The individuals behind the malicious calls often claim extreme emergencies like hostage crises or bomb threats in order to deploy SWAT teams ready for confrontation.
The rise of internet fame through platforms like YouTube and Twitch has brought swatting to the forefront as a means for trolls to harass popular online personalities. It's a dangerous act that risks lives and resources over petty virtual vendettas. Many gaming personalities have dealt with swatting cases over recent years.
While Luke appeared composed in cutting his GTA Online session short, fans expressed great concern over his safety. It isn't uncommon for swatting incidents to turn fatal. Thankfully though, the voice actor indicated no further issues by posting a reassuring update the next day.
