One of the world’s most famous online personalities is facing trial.
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as “MrBeast,” is a 26-year-old YouTube star with over 300 million subscribers. He has built an empire by giving away huge prizes to viewers of his videos.
The proposed class action lawsuit accuses production company MrBeast and Amazon Studios of “chronic mistreatment” and sexual harassment of contestants on an upcoming reality TV show. The plaintiffs also claim they are considered employees, not contestants, and are challenging wages in the lawsuit.
Details of the legal battle
Five anonymous contestants on Amazon’s upcoming reality show “Beast Games” allege that MrBeast’s production company and Amazon Studios created a “toxic and hostile” environment that “laid the foundation” for sexual harassment, the lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs cite an alleged production guide titled “How to Succeed in Producing MrBeast,” which they say encourages obscenities and instructs staff to “do everything” to “help” talent “become idiots.”
The candidates also claim they were forced to endure “dangerous” conditions with a lack of access to medical care, food and water, and say they were not paid a fair wage.
“You can call them whatever you want, but if they meet the definition of an employee, it doesn’t matter what title you give them,” said Lizelle Brandt, the plaintiffs’ attorney. “Our argument is that they are employees under California law.”
Amazon Studios and a spokesperson for MrBeast declined to comment.
“The hope and the dream and the expectation of getting paid is not the same as being an employee,” said CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson. “There’s a real legal battle here: The plaintiffs will have to convince a judge that this group that signed on to be on a show should be considered employees, not contestants.”
Previous allegations
The accusations come after YouTuber Jake Weddle, who claims to be a former MrBeast employee, alleged psychological abuse during a 100-day isolation challenge.
“It got to the point where they weren’t turning the lights off anymore,” Weddle said. “You know, I asked them. I said, ‘Can we have nighttime hours, you know?’ They said, ‘No.’”
Donaldson, 26, has allegations already faced of racism and inappropriate comments.
“As a teenager, Jimmy acted like many kids and used inappropriate language while trying to be funny,” a spokesperson for the YouTuber said in a statement to The Associated Press when the allegations surfaced. “Over the years, he has apologized many times and has learned that with increasing influence comes increasing responsibility, to be more aware and sensitive to the power of language. After making some bad jokes and other mistakes when he was younger, as an adult, he has focused on engaging with the MrBeast community to work together to make a positive impact around the world.”
Carter Evans
