YouTuber MrBeast, known off-screen as Jimmy Donaldson, has severed ties with his longtime collaborator, Ava Kris Tyson, amidst a growing controversy involving serious allegations. Tyson, once a familiar face on the popular channel, is now at the centre of a scandal involving accusations of inappropriate behaviour.
Allegations and immediate action
The decision to part ways with Tyson follows allegations that she groomed a teenager. Initially defending his friend, MrBeast has now called for a third-party investigation into the matter. In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), Donaldson expressed his dismay: “Over the last few days, I’ve become aware of the serious allegations of Ava Tyson’s behaviour online and I am disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts.”
Donaldson further explained his decision to remove Tyson from his team, channel, and any associations with MrBeast.
“I’ve seen enough online and taken immediate action to remove Ava from the company, my channel, and any association with MrBeast. I do not condone or support any of the inappropriate actions,” he wrote. He emphasized that he will allow independent investigators the necessary time to conduct a thorough investigation and will take further actions based on their findings.
Ava Kris Tyson’s role and personal journey
Ava Kris Tyson has been instrumental in MrBeast’s success since the channel’s inception in 2012. Recently, Tyson came out as transgender, becoming a steady presence on the platform as it grew to become the most subscribed YouTube channel, boasting 300 million subscribers. She has been involved in numerous prank and challenge videos and has also led the popular “Beast Reacts” channel. In March 2023, Tyson revealed on Twitter that she and her wife had been living apart for a year. She announced that she had begun hormone replacement therapy, would be using she/her pronouns, and had changed her name. These revelations were met with a mixed reaction from fans.
The allegations of grooming
The controversy centers around allegations that Tyson sent inappropriate messages to a fan when she was 20, and the fan was just 13. The now 20-year-old fan, Lava, has denied these claims. Despite denials from both parties, Tyson has faced a barrage of online hate, stemming from unverified accusations and a wave of transphobic attacks. In response to the backlash, Tyson decided to step down and issued an apology.
Moving forward
As the independent investigation proceeds, the YouTube community and MrBeast’s massive following will be closely watching how the situation unfolds. Donaldson’s commitment to addressing the allegations seriously reflects the gravity of the situation and his stance against any form of inappropriate behaviour.