MrBeast: Charges against YouTube star’s new show “Beast Games”

What is the production now accused of?

The indictment, which was received in Los Angeles last week, contains serious allegations: exploitation, deception, sexual harassment and “infliction of emotional distress.”

Working conditions:

The Conditions of the show. The participants were only able to eat or drink irregularly and inadequately, access to hygiene products and medical care was difficult, and rest breaks were not observed. The production had “control over every aspect of life during the production period,” the indictment states. The participants were then supposed to compete against each other in a malnourished and overtired state.

The result: Several participants were reportedly admitted to the local hospital during filming due to the terrible conditions, and at least two suffered a seizure.

Financial exploitation:

In addition, the Allegation of exploitation: Employment contracts between the production and the participants are said to contain conflicting or illegal terms in order to avoid employment obligations under California law.

After production began, MrBeast raved that “money was not an issue in the $100 million production.” However, according to the plaintiffs, there was no fair compensation for participants in the show. Four of the five plaintiffs say they have not yet received the promised compensation – minimum wage. Overtime is not even paid.

In addition, the participants are illegally classified as “volunteers” instead of employees. This is to the advantage of the “Beast Games” production, which was able to collect $2,252,523 in pre-payroll taxes and tax credits.

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Sexual harassment:

During filming, the production staff reported that sexual harassment “The defendants failed to provide a safe and healthy workplace, to the collective detriment of the female participants who were sexually harassed,” according to the indictment. MrBeast and the production companies involved are said to have known about the allegation but failed to intervene.

Deception and manipulation:

The participants complain that they were not properly informed about the show's content before it began, or that they were even deliberately deceived. A recently surfaced employee handbook from Mr. Beast's production company (“How To Succeed in Mr. Beast Production”) is also causing outrage online. It contains sentences such as: “Really do everything you can to… [Teilnehmer] to support them in filming and help them create content. Help them be idiots.” Or “If a talent in the video wants to draw a dick on the whiteboard or do something stupid, let them.”

MrBeast and the production company were very aware of the devastating conditions, the plaintiff alleges in the indictment: “The aforementioned actions of the defendants created an environment during the Beast Games that was so inhumane that the defendants ended up voluntarily covering the costs of the participants' therapy, it was that bad.”

Who are the plaintiffs?

A total of five participants, and therefore employees of the show, have filed suit. They come from Los Angeles and California, but no further details are known. They themselves state that they wish to remain anonymous in order to protect themselves from possible hostility.

Will MrBeast also be specifically charged?

No. The lawsuit is specifically directed against the companies “MrB2024” and “Amazon Alternative”. “MrB2024” is the production company that is said to belong in whole or in part to MrBeast, “Amazon Alternative” is the division of Amazon Studios that produces content for the streaming service “Amazon Prime”. A third production company called “Off One's Base” is also named, which is said to have also been involved in the production.

What happens next?

MrBeast's otherwise loud social media accounts have remained silent on the current allegations. Instead, there are videos with dogs and advertisements for his food company. Amazon has also not yet commented on the allegations. It is still unclear how and if “Beast Games” will be broadcast. No release date has yet been given on the streaming platform Amazon Prime.