Ava Kris Tyson, a longtime friend and collaborator of YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson (better known as MrBeast), announced this week that she was leaving the channel after online commenters accused her of “manipulation.”
Tyson regularly appears on the MrBeast channel, which features outrageous challenges, elaborate contests and high-price comparison videos. Donaldson has 305 million subscribers on YouTube, making his channel the most-followed on the platform.
Tyson, who is a transgender woman, has faced attacks on her identity in the past, and Donaldson has defended her.
Tyson has recently come under fire for developing a relationship with a minor online when the person was 13 and Tyson was 20. The controversy began after a video in June analyzing online interactions between Tyson and the minor, who goes by the online name LavaGS, gained popularity on YouTube this week.
More online commenters began scrutinizing public messages between Tyson and LavaGS on X and Discord, including some that referenced nude photos, sex and hentai, or animated pornography. NBC News was unable to independently verify the messages, which appeared to have been deleted by Wednesday afternoon.
Social media users appear to believe that these posts are evidence of a form of “grooming,” which the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children defines as establishing “a relationship, trust, and emotional connection with a child or youth in order to manipulate, exploit, and abuse them.” Conservatives have used the term “groomer” against the LGBTQ community online in recent years.
In a post on X announcing her departure, Tyson denied the grooming allegations but apologized to her followers.
“I would like to apologize for any past behavior or comments if they have hurt or offended anyone. That was not my intention,” she wrote Tuesday. “In light of recent events, we have mutually decided that it is best for me to permanently step away from all things MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and mental health.”
LavaGS, now 20, refuted the grooming allegations on X on Monday.
“These videos are big lies and twist the truth,” he said. “Ava never did anything wrong, she just made some dirty jokes. I was never taken advantage of or taken advantage of.”
He added that “Kris’ messages were sent to me on public Discord servers/groups, but everyone is presenting them as if they were a one-on-one conversation.”
A representative for Tyson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. LavaGS also did not immediately respond to a request for comment via X.
Tyson posted an apology on X for making “unacceptable social media posts,” but referred people to LavaGS’s posts denying the grooming allegations.
I would like to apologize for any past behavior or comments if they have hurt or offended anyone. That was not my intention. In light of recent events, we have mutually decided that it is best for me to permanently step away from all things MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and mental health.
-Ava Kris Tyson (@kristyson_) July 23, 2024
“Putting these two factors together to create a narrative that my behavior went beyond bad jokes is disgusting and never happened,” she posted on X. “Over the last few years, I’ve learned that my old humor was not acceptable. I can’t change who I was, but I can continue to work on myself.”
Despite Tyson and LavaGS’s posts, many people online feel that the sexual innuendo in Tyson’s interactions with a minor should not be considered “racy.” Some feel that it is inappropriate for adult content creators to engage in explicit conversations with their underage fans because there is a power imbalance.
In addition to criticism of her inappropriate posts, Tyson has received comments calling her misgendered, as well as anti-LGBTQ harassment comments. LavaGS has received comments questioning her account of her experience and accusing her of being “paid.”
Donaldson said in a Wednesday night post on X that he had removed Tyson from the company, the channel “and any association with MrBeast” after learning of the allegations.
“Over the past few days, I have become aware of serious allegations regarding Ava Tyson’s online behavior and I am disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable actions,” he wrote. “In the meantime, I have worked to engage an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure I have all the facts.”
Donaldson said he would wait for the investigation’s findings before taking further action.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
