If you’ve spent any time on WhatNot—the livestreaming app that feels like a cross between QVC and a Vegas sportsbook—the name Steven Lions might not have been on your radar.
But according to a bombshell update from industry veteran Brian Gray, it’s a name that collectors could be talking about for years to come.
The report details a spectacular collapse involving allegations of rigged auctions, half a million dollars in unpaid debts, and a high-profile narcotics arrest.
Controversy began with a series of high-end “breaks” on the WhatNot app—a platform where viewers buy “spots” in a box of cards, hoping to “hit” a rare, valuable item.
According to Gray, Lions’ breaks weren't just lucky; they were rigged.
"People taking the Bengals over the Cowboys in a high-end break? Never happens," Gray said. "I knew immediately there was bullshit at play."
Investigation into the stream revealed what Gray termed “the equivalent of insider trading.”
Two major accounts involved in the break had allegedly sold the exact cards being opened by Lions shortly before the stream.
Because they were the suppliers, they knew exactly which teams were going to "hit" and bought into those specific spots.
>VIDEO: MISTERLYONS WHATNOT SCAM UPDATE!
The scandal goes deeper than just bad optics.
As word spread, the suppliers of those cards came forward with a common grievance: they hadn't been paid.
Gray alleges that Lions owes vendors collectively upwards of $500,000 for high-end sports card inventory.
When confronted, Lions didn't exactly offer a refund. Instead, he took a combative stance that Gray believes is a classic stall tactic.
Lions reportedly told creditors that the money would sit in escrow until they apologized for the "wrong" they had done him.
While the hobby was debating the ethics of the break, the legal system was moving in.
Gray’s deep dive into Lions’ background revealed a prior six-year prison sentence for theft.
However, the most recent blow is the most staggering. Lions was recently arrested in Brazos County, Texas, for possession of marijuana.
We’re not talking about a couple of joints—the arrest was for an amount between five and 50 pounds.
Lions remains in custody.
The biggest villain in this story, according to Gray, might not just be the man behind the camera, but the platform that hosted him.
Gray slammed WhatNot Trust & Safety, claiming they ignored 2,000-word essays of evidence from defrauded users.
According to Gray, the platform only took action and banned Lions permanently once the company itself started losing money.
