Chud the Builder
American livestreamer (born 1997)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dalton Levi Eatherly (born June 27, 1997), better known as Chud the Builder,[a] is an American livestreamer who is known for his confrontational IRL streams in Tennessee. Eatherly's online persona, characterized by frequent use of racial slurs and harassment directed at Black people, has led to public condemnation, platform suspensions, and legal controversies. He received national media attention in 2026 following a shooting outside a courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, which resulted in Eatherly being charged with attempted murder.
Chud the Builder | |
|---|---|
| Born | Dalton Levi Eatherly June 27, 1997 |
| Kick information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2025–2026 |
| Genre | IRL streams |
| X information | |
| Handle | |
| Display name | ChudTheBuilder |
| Years active | 2024–present |
| Followers | 229 thousand |
| Last updated: May 15, 2026 | |
Career
In 2024 or early 2025, Eatherly was involved in a road rage incident with a Black woman, whose daughter later alleged that he had called them "the n-word".[1] The resulting local backlash reportedly led to Eatherly losing his job at a construction company.[2] Eatherly later stated that the incident motivated him to begin creating retaliatory online content.[1]
Eatherly began livestreaming on Kick and posting on X under the alias "ChudTheBuilder". His content primarily consisted of IRL streams, and he described himself online as a "free speech patriot". His livestreams became known for their confrontational and ragebait-oriented style, frequently involving interactions with strangers in public settings,[3] consistently featuring the use of racial slurs and dog whistles directed at Black people, whom he often referred to as "chimps".[4] He displayed his firearm during several livestreams,[5] and on social media, Eatherly implied that eventually one of his confrontations would lead to the death of a Black person.[6] Multiple news outlets described Eatherly's content as racist.[4]
Clips from his streams were widely circulated on platforms including TikTok and YouTube, and in early May 2026, a video involving Eatherly went viral in which he appeared to spray a chemical agent at a Black individual while shouting racial slurs after the person knocked his hat off.[7] By 2026, Eatherly had gained a following in some far-right circles, leading to an appearance on Infowars and an interview with Gavin McInnes.[6] However, his racist rhetoric also was criticized by some right-wing commentators, including white nationalist Nick Fuentes,[7] whom Eatherly had previously admired.
In April 2026, Eatherly was suspended from Kick over public harassment.[8] The suspension, initially issued for three days, was later extended indefinitely.[9] Following the unsuccessful appeal of his ban, he moved to the livestreaming platform Pump, where every content creator receives a personal meme coin.[6]
Personal life
According to Eatherly, harassment and death threats from Clarksville residents, left-wing TikTok users, and others caused safety concerns that led to his separation from his son.[2] He later claimed that his son's mother planned to change the child's name legally to avoid association with him.[1]
Legal issues
Arrest in Clarksville
On November 18, 2025, Eatherly was arrested, in Clarksville, Tennessee, on a harassment charge.[10]
Arrest in Nashville
On May 11, 2026, Eatherly was arrested after allegedly refusing to pay for a meal at a Nashville steakhouse and directing racial slurs at employees the previous day.[11] Police stated that Eatherly attempted to resist arrest.[12] While in custody, Eatherly claimed that he was interviewed by an FBI counterterrorism unit with regard to alleged links to the Goyim Defense League.[1] He was later released on a $5,000 bond, with a hearing scheduled for July 17.[13][14]
Montgomery County courthouse shooting
On the afternoon of May 13, 2026, Eatherly was scheduled to appear in Montgomery County court over an alleged $3,000 debt owed to a credit company.[7] Outside the courthouse, he became involved in an altercation with a Black man identified as Joshua Fox. During the confrontation, Eatherly allegedly drew a handgun from his jacket pocket and fired multiple shots at Fox.[15] Reports also stated that Eatherly accidentally shot himself in the arm during the incident.[5] Police responded to the scene and Eatherly was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.[16] His bail was set at $1.25 million.[17] Following the shooting, Eatherly livestreamed himself speaking with first responders,[15] during which he claimed that he had been assaulted by Fox and acted in self-defense.[18]
Eatherly had set up a GiveSendGo fundraiser after he had lost employment. After the shooting, he had raised more than US$150,000 as of May 15, 2026.[2][3][19] The value of his meme coin also increased significantly after the shooting.[6] Commentary surrounding the incident frequently focused on Tennessee's stand-your-ground laws, with some supporters arguing that Eatherly's actions were legally justified.[20] The sheriff's department was criticized by local Tennesseans for not acting on prior concerns with Eatherly. The Democratic Party affiliate in Montgomery County described him as an individual who had sought notoriety as a local white supremacist.[5] In the aftermath of the shooting, several commentators and publications cited the incident as an example of the broader growth of online racism, ragebait content, and engagement farming.[21][6]
Notes
- Stylized as ChudTheBuilder