Former Claptrap Voice Actor David Eddings Claims He Was Physically Assaulted By Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford

Spencer Baculi |

May 7, 2019

David Eddings, the former voice of Claptrap in the Borderlands series, has stated that Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford physically assaulted him during the 2017 Game Developers Conference.

Eddings recently informed fans that he would not be reprising his role as Claptrap in the upcoming Borderlands 3 due to a dispute regarding his compensation. In response, Pitchford issued his own statement claiming that Eddings was “paid very handsomely” during his time at Gearbox and that Pitchford had made a “very generous offer [to Eddings] to reprise the role.” However, Eddings felt slighted by this statement, taking to Twitter to refute Pitchford’s claims and provide further details regarding Pitchford’s unprofessional conduct:

I was fine moving on after Gearbox. But when my former boss starts mouthing off about various aspects of my employment including “how highly compensated” I was and how “generous” he is, I feel obligated to correct the record.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

I had a lot of mixed feelings when asked to reprise the role of Claptrap late last year and eventually realized I was willing to put differences aside and do something cool for Borderlands fans with my friends at Gearbox.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

I ultimately offered to do it for “free” in exchange for past royalties owed plus an apology for something I’ve never spoken about publicly until now: Randy physically assaulted me in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis at GDC 2017.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

Personally, I think Randy’s been on tilt the last few years. He’s not the victim he portrays himself to be. I even blocked him a couple years ago for stalking me on social media. Enough is enough.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

It’s nice not feeling the need to spot any sleight of hand these days or wonder if the card was chosen or forced. I’m happy to be free from the half-truths and full-on deceptions. And thankful to no longer hear people referred to as “muggles” like a con-man refers to a “mark”.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

As an aside, seems a bit conspicuous that he chimed in on my salary but didn’t mention anything about the $12M of revenue he siphoned away from the employee royalty pool. FYI – GBX employees are asked to take lower salaries with the promise of royalty shares.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

2K says they won’t give a statement regarding an ongoing lawsuit but if the allegation is false then it sure seems a lot easier to just deny it since that’s the only reason they’re mentioned. The whole thing stinks.

— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 7, 2019

The lawsuit mentioned by Eddings refers to the ongoing lawsuit filed against Pitchford and Gearbox by former Gearbox legal counsel Wade Callender, a lawsuit which alleges that, among other actions, Pitchford siphoned $12 Million from Gearbox and (bizarrely) that Pitchford once physically lost a USB stick which contained sensitive corporate documents and “”underage” pornography.”

As of writing, Pitchford has not publicly responded to Eddings’ allegations.