MrBeast and Amazon sued: Horror behind the reality show scenes

Scandal surrounding YouTube star MrBeast

The popular YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, and the streaming giant Amazon are facing serious allegations. As Variety reports, five anonymous participants in the reality show Beast Games have filed a class action lawsuit. The allegations range from sexual harassment to “chronic mistreatment” of the contestants.

The Beast Games are a large-scale competition with over 1,000 participants and a top prize of five million dollars (around 4.5 million euros). According to MrBeast, they are supposed to be “the biggest reality competition of all time”. But instead of fame and fortune, many participants experienced a real horror scenario.

Serious allegations against production

According to the lawsuit, the participants were not paid adequately and were exposed to emotional stress, among other things. Particularly alarming are the allegations of a lack of medical care, food and sleep deprivation, and inadequate hygiene conditions. Participants also complain of a “hostile work environment.”

An alleged employee handbook entitled “How to Succeed in MrBeast Production” is said to reveal a questionable corporate culture. It states, among other things:

If talent wants to draw a penis on the board or do something stupid, let them… Encourage the guys when they're filming and help them produce content. Help them be idiots.

Health consequences

“Several participants ended up in the hospital, while others reported physical and mental ailments,” the lawsuit states. An anonymous plaintiff who described herself as a MrBeast fan expressed her disappointment: “I expected a challenge, but not to be treated like nothing – less than nothing.”

MrBeast, the biggest YouTuber in the world with over 316 million subscribers, is known for his elaborate stunts and money-giving campaigns. His most-watched video, a reenactment of the Korean Netflix series Squid Game, reached over 500 million views – and this is undoubtedly a model for his own show. This is not the first time that MrBeast has been involved in controversy: in the past, his methods have been criticized, particularly regarding the working conditions in his productions.

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