MrBeast’s Empire Under Fire: Allegations of Sexual Harassment and "Chronic Mistreatment" Cast Shadow Over "Beast Games"
MrBeast, the global YouTube sensation whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is facing a storm of controversy this week as a wave of allegations of sexual harassment and "chronic mistreatment" have emerged from former contestants of his upcoming reality TV show, Beast Games. The lawsuit, filed against Donaldson and Amazon (the show’s producer), paints a disturbing picture of a production plagued by neglect, lack of proper medical care, and exploitative labor practices.
The allegations, while serious, come at a particularly challenging time for MrBeast, who is already grappling with other controversies surrounding his company. Earlier this month, Donaldson hired renowned lawyer Alex Spiro to conduct an audit of his company and address claims made by a former employee who accused him of being a “sociopath” and a “fraud.” This new lawsuit further complicates matters for the internet star.
Variety, which broke the story, published a copy of the complaint filed on behalf of five anonymous former contestants. The document alleges that the defendants “created working conditions that jeopardized the safety of workers," detailing a litany of issues including insufficient food and hydration, inadequate medical staffing, lack of reasonable medical care, forced sleep deprivation, and compelling contestants to participate in games posing unreasonable risks to their physical and mental wellbeing.
While the lawsuit presents wide-ranging claims, it remains relatively vague on specifics. For instance, the allegations of sexual discrimination on set are not explicitly detailed, potentially due to the redacted nature of this section. The lawsuit explains this decision as an effort to "limit public viewing in a good faith effort to comply with Defendants’ overbroad confidentiality provisions, as well as to preserve the confidentiality and privacy interests of the Plaintiffs who wish to avoid opprobrium.”
One anonymous plaintiff, speaking out against the production, stated, "I wanted to join because I was a fan of MrBeast and his videos made me smile during the COVID-19 pandemic. I expected to be challenged, but I didn’t think I would be treated like nothing — less than nothing. And as one of the women, I can say it absolutely felt like a hostile environment for us. We honestly could not have been respected less — as people, much less employees — if they tried.”
The lawsuit also highlights an employee handbook allegedly distributed during filming, which seemingly encouraged male contestants to "be idiots" and "be childish," implying that such behavior was deemed desirable for content creation.
Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that the production violated California labor laws by misclassifying the contestants’ employment status to the Nevada Film Commission to receive a $2 million tax credit. The complaint argues this misclassification allowed the production to “avoid paying employment taxes and to spare the Production the costs of implementing various employment protections required under California law," including "minimum wages, overtime, mandatory meal and rest breaks, workers compensation benefits, itemized wage statements and timely payment of wages and reimbursements.”
These allegations echo concerns previously raised in an August article from the New York Times, which chronicled the working conditions on the Beast Games set. While the Times article did not mention claims of sexual harassment, it presented a detailed account of various problematic aspects of the production, including allegations of insufficient food provisions ("two, woefully small meals a day", as opposed to the show’s claim of three meals per day), inadequate medical care, and delays in providing medication – with one contestant claiming they were denied their insulin in a timely manner. The article also noted instances where contestants received medications "hours, or even days, after their scheduled dosing times," leading to hospitalizations.
The Times article also revealed that the show’s advertised contestant number differed greatly from the actual number. Amazon originally advertised the competition as one with 1,000 participants, but Donaldson later announced that the actual number would be 2,000. This discrepancy left several contestants feeling "deceived about their chances of winning the $5 million prize."
In response to the new lawsuit, Gizmodo has reached out to Alex Spiro, Donaldson’s lawyer, and Amazon for comment. However, they have yet to release a statement.
MrBeast’s massive success rests on a foundation of daring stunts, extravagant give-aways, and a sense of authenticity. However, these recent accusations threaten to tarnish his image and cast a shadow over his entire brand.
While the complaint may not contain detailed evidence of all the alleged offenses, it’s important to note that the Times article revealed that contestants were informed during initial screening that they would have to agree to potentially participate in dangerous activities (throwing off a boat, being buried alive, or even traveling to outer space). They were also warned that participation could lead to “death, illness, or serious bodily injury, including, but not limited to exhaustion, dehydration, overexertion, burns, and heat stroke.”
This begs the question: is it acceptable to expose individuals to such extreme risks for the sake of entertainment? While some might argue that every participant agreed to the risks involved, these risks are not merely theoretical. The severity of the reported injuries and the questionable circumstances surrounding the contestants’ access to healthcare raise serious concerns about the production’s disregard for participant wellbeing.
The question remains: how will MrBeast and Amazon respond to these serious allegations? The potential ramifications for their reputation and future endeavors loom large. The nature and scale of the claims necessitate a detailed and transparent investigation to uncover the full extent of the problem and ensure accountability for any wrongdoings. The outcome will not only shape the fate of Beast Games but also determine the trajectory of MrBeast’s burgeoning media empire.
