Popular YouTuber MrBeast, known for his elaborate and high-stakes competitions, has been named in a lawsuit alleging that contestants in his upcoming Beast Games series were “shamelessly exploited.” The court documents accuse the production companies involved, including MrB2024 and Amazon, of subjecting participants to unsafe conditions, inadequate compensation, and a hostile work environment.
Overview of the lawsuit against MrBeast
The series, announced in March, promised 1,000 contestants the opportunity to compete for a $5 million prize in what was marketed as the “biggest live game show in the world.” However, a lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles court on Monday paints a troubling picture of what occurred behind the scenes. Participants claim they were unpaid, forced to endure unsafe conditions, and subjected to sexual harassment during the production. The lawsuit names MrB2024, a company reportedly owned by MrBeast—whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson—and accuses the show’s organizers of failing to meet basic labour and safety standards.
Allegations of exploitation and unsafe conditions
According to the court filings, five anonymous contestants are bringing claims on behalf of all who participated in the show. They allege that the production team maintained tight control over their lives during filming, dictating when they could sleep, and what they wore, and even denying them privacy and access to the outside world. Contestants were “underfed and overtired,” the documents state, with meals provided “sporadically and sparsely,” putting their health at risk. The 54-page lawsuit also describes unsafe conditions, including contestants being confined to small, overcrowded areas, dangerous set designs, and inadequate background checks, which allowed convicted criminals to participate. Several contestants reportedly suffered physical injuries and were denied proper medical care, further compounding concerns over the safety protocols in place.
Claims of sexual harassment and a “culture of misogyny”
The lawsuit also details a toxic environment for female contestants, alleging that the set fostered “a culture of misogyny and sexism.” Sexual harassment, it claims, was widespread and tolerated by the production team. “This was not only noticed but allowed,” the court documents state, further claiming that such behaviour was a result of “marching orders from the top.” Two of the female claimants are seeking additional compensation for the hostile work environment they say they endured during filming.
Demand for compensation
The lawsuit argues that contestants provided “essential labour” for the production and should have been classified as employees. As a result, the claimants are demanding compensation for unpaid wages, seeking thousands of dollars for each participant to cover the time and effort they contributed to the show. This is not the first time MrBeast’s channel has faced scrutiny. Earlier this year, the YouTuber announced he had hired private investigators to look into allegations against a co-host on his channel, Ava Kris Tyson, who was accused of grooming a minor. Tyson, who was 20 at the time, denied the allegations, but MrBeast removed her from his channel, stating that he did not “condone or support any of the inappropriate actions.”
Amazon has declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit, while representatives for MrBeast have not yet responded to requests for comment. Another production company named in the lawsuit, Off One’s Base LLP, has also been unreachable. The case is likely to draw significant attention as it unfolds, particularly given MrBeast’s massive influence as the world’s most-subscribed YouTuber, with more than 300 million followers.