Why is MrBeast getting sued? The lawsuit against YouTube’s biggest influencer explained
Five women that participated in the upcoming Prime Video show ‘Beast Games’ are suing the production companies and the biggest YouTube influencer, MrBeast.
The biggest YouTube influencer, Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast, rose to prominence and fame with his outsized and over-the-top stunts and competitions. The 26-year-old YouTuber is considered one of the nicest guys on the internet thanks in part to his philanthropy.
However, a lawsuit brought by five women that participated in an upcoming Prime Video reality-competition show ‘Beast Games’ may take some of the shine off the popular internet star.
Why is MrBeast getting sued? The lawsuit against YouTube’s biggest influencer explained
The participants in the lawsuit brought against MrBeast, his production company and Amazon MGM Studios which accuses them of creating an environment that “permitted to exist, and fostered a culture and pattern and practice of sexual harassment including in the form of a hostile work environment”.
They also claim that they were severely mistreated, neglected and suffered emotional distress. Additionally, that they were not paid and the Beast Games were falsely advertised.
The legal complaint cites what is alleged to be a MrBeast employee handbook title “How to succeed in MrBeast Production.” The court filing says if it is truly distributed to MrBeast production staff, it advises them to “Really do everything you can to empower the boys when filming and help them make content. Help them be idiots.” As well as “If talent wants to draw a dick on the white board in the video or do something stupid, let them.”
They also claim in their complaint that the conditions during the contest, part of which took place in a football stadium in Las Vegas this summer, were dangerous and endangered their health and welfare. They allege that meals were provided “sporadically and sparsely” and along with the grueling schedule left them “underfed and overtired.” They also said that they weren’t given their medication in a timely manner.
The New York Times reported in August that it had spoken to some contestants that had participated in the competition who told the outlet there had been several hospitalizations and some contestants left the arena on stretchers. One described seeing fellow contestants vomiting and seeming to pass out.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs say that they weren’t paid a fair wage and that their contracts were illegal classifying them as volunteers. This was done so that the production could qualify for certain tax breaks, amounting to $2.5 million, while filming in Las Vegas.
They claim that they should be considered as employees and not contestants. Their lawyer, Lizelle Brandt, is arguing that under California law they should be treated as employees. “You can call them whatever you want to, but if they meet the definition of an employee, it doesn’t matter what you title them,” she said.
Contestants also complained of being misled about their odds of winning the $5 million prize. They were told that 1,000 people would be competing in the Beast Games. However, when they arrived MrBeast told them there were 2,000 people. A spokesperson for the YouTuber told the New York Times that that had always been the intention for that phase, then whittling down to 1,000 contestants for the actual show.