Controversy continues to hound MrBeast after the content creator is named in a class-action lawsuit filed by the contestants of the upcoming reality competition show, Beast Games.
According to media reports, five anonymous participants of the show filed the lawsuit against MrBeast, his production company, and Amazon Studios, alleging that the contestants were subjected to “unreasonable, unsafe” working conditions and that they were “shamelessly exploited” during the production of the show.
As announced in March of this year, Beast Games was billed as “the biggest reality competition” of all time. The Amazon Prime Video show’s formula is based on the content creator’s regular YouTube series that features 1,000 participants competing for a single $5 million cash prize.
Big news gamers I’m going to be filming the largest game show in history and releasing it on Prime Video! Over 1,000 contestants, $5,000,000 prize, and many other world records.. I’ll reveal more later this year but let’s just say, it’s gonna be an insane show 😀
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) March 18, 2024
But in the redacted copy of the complaint obtained by Variety, participants alleged they weren’t paid minimum wages and overtime and demanded to be compensated for other monetary expenses.
“Mr. [Jimmy] Donaldson, who has publicly represented that all MrBeast® contestants get paid if they compete for just five minutes, gushed to his fans online about the bigger-than-ever scale of the Amazon-sponsored Beast Games, stating that money was ‘not a constraint,’” it read. “Unfortunately, the supposedly magnanimous MrBeast® did not want to use the alleged unconstrained resources to provide fair wages, or even bare-minimum-legal working conditions, to the Contestants whose labor comprised the core commercial value of Beast Games.”
Additionally, the contestants also detailed in the 54-page document that MrBeast and Amazon have made “multiple false statements to the contestants.”
A case in point: the number of contestants was apparently different from what was first announced. Instead, the number of contestants had increased to 2,000, and the first thousand competitors to be eliminated would be used for MrBeast’s content on his YouTube channel.
The lawsuit also alleged that multiple participants of the show ended up being hospitalized due to deprivation of medical care, food, sleep, and other basic hygiene necessities. Others, on the other hand, have been reported to experience mental and emotional distress, as well as physical injuries as they were subjected to “chronic mistreatment” and degradation.
Further, female contestants were also exposed to a “toxic and hostile work environment,” with most of them having experienced sexual harassment.
According to the lawsuit, a “fostered culture of misogyny and sexism” was also rampant during the show’s production through an employee handbook titled, “How to Succeed in MrBeast Production.”
The alleged employee handbook, which was first exposed by YouTuber Rosanna Pansino in August, provided insights that promote the “boys-will-be-boys working conditions.”
It also advises the production staff to “really do everything you can to empower the boys when filming and help them make content” and “help them be idiots.”
“If talent wants to draw a dick on the whiteboard in the video or do something stupid, let them,” it read.
In a statement by one of the female contestants, identified as Contestant 5, who filed the lawsuit, she expressed how she didn’t expect to be exposed in such a hostile environment and that they would be disrespected.
“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,” said Contestant 5.
News of the class-action lawsuit against the famous YouTuber has caught the attention of the people on the internet, and they were quick to weigh in on the issue.
The world’s largest online retailer and the richest YouTuber not paying minimum wage is genuinely insane https://t.co/nrsBtk8Xjg
— Colin (@IntroSpecktive) September 18, 2024
As you all know, a lot has been going on this month.
Over the last few weeks I have spoken with over 200 Beast Games contestants, more than 50 current and former MrBeast employees, as well as other people hurt & harassed by more companies.
These conversations, and all of YOUR… pic.twitter.com/x8Z7GZG3t0
— Rosanna Pansino (@RosannaPansino) September 19, 2024
imagine not being paid minimum wage for all that
— Angelica Reed (@Angelica_Reed1) September 18, 2024
Not surprised. His normal YouTube contests episodes have been accused of the same.
Just look at that fake smile. Every single photo is the same fake smile with dead eyes. pic.twitter.com/XkDUoDrCIF
— Pharaoh of X (@PharaohOfX) September 18, 2024
It's pretty clear by now that Mr.Beast is a horrible person, like most other celebrities tbh. Some are okay though, but the majority just want to straight up exploit people.
— Powdered Toast Man (@arvay61) September 18, 2024
Wow, that’s shocking! MrBeast’s brand is all about positivity and giving back, so these allegations are pretty serious. Let’s see how this unfolds.
— Tayyaba (@tayyabaarehmat) September 18, 2024
The lawsuit against MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and Amazon over their competition show Beast Games is significant, as it includes serious allegations like sexual harassment, chronic mistreatment, and unpaid wages. This brings into question the treatment of contestants and staff on…
— Surya (@Surya__kiran___) September 18, 2024
Seeing people realize MrBeast is a terrible person and not this saint that they put up on a pedestal is so fucking funny cus they really thought he was gonna be any different from all the other famous rich white celebrities https://t.co/fRwX7pYOP3
— cookie 🍪 (@heyitscookie) September 20, 2024
Dude watched Squid Game one time and decided to make that his entire personality. Shouldve just stuck to making the world a better place by continuing to help people see, eat and live better lives. Hell his clean the ocean project was great but nah lets play hunger games instead
— RedTeamReview ✪ (@RedTeamReview) September 18, 2024
Good. This should be settled in court. They need to be held accountable for the things going on.
— Matt (@GamemasterYado) September 18, 2024
As of this writing, MrBeast and Amazon Studios have yet to release a statement.
This isn’t the first time that Beast Games contestants have spoken up about the “unsafe working conditions” they were exposed to during the filming of the reality show.
In August, two eliminated participants told TIME how challenging it was for them to “get adequate sleep, food, water, and medication,” and that the production staff was “disorganized.”
While the production of Beast Games started in mid-July of this year, a release date for the reality show competition has yet to be announced. Beast Games is set to be available exclusively on Prime Video worldwide.
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