The world's most popular blogger has found himself in a scandal as he is being sued for alleged sexual harassment. MrBeast, who gained fame for his generosity on YouTube, is facing a collective lawsuit filed by participants of his reality show, Beast Games. The show, which featured two thousand contestants, was touted as the largest of its kind, but even before its premiere, the contestants began complaining about the harsh conditions and the mistreatment by the show's team. Now, several participants have taken legal action, accusing the organizers of creating a hostile atmosphere that fosters sexual harassment.
The lawsuit claims that the show had a toxic atmosphere, particularly impacting women. The female participants were subjected to severe embarrassment and discomfort due to the conditions on set. One participant stated, "I expected there to be difficulties, but I didn't expect to be treated as if I was invisible or worse. As a woman on the show, the atmosphere felt hostile towards us. Frankly, even if they had tried, they couldn't have surpassed their own disrespect towards us."
It is alleged that the women on the show became victims of sexual harassment, and the show's team was not only aware of it but also allowed such behavior towards the contestants. The lawsuit suggests that this was permitted due to directives from higher-ups.
As evidence of the creators' involvement in fostering a hostile environment that led to sexual harassment, the plaintiffs present a document they claim is a guideline for MrBeast's employees, previously made public by YouTuber Rosanna Pansino. The document, supposedly written by MrBeast himself, states, "Boys will be boys. If he wants to draw a penis on the whiteboard in a video or do something silly, let him... Do everything in your power to inspire the guys during filming and help them create content. Help them to be idiots." The plaintiffs argue that these instructions laid the foundation for sexual harassment against women on the show.
The lawsuit withholds specific details about the incidents of sexual harassment and the identities of the plaintiffs in order to protect their privacy and comply with confidentiality requirements. There are five plaintiffs, all residents of the United States, including two women. The defendants named in the lawsuit are MRB2024, an organization believed to be partially or wholly owned by MrBeast, and Off One's Base, the production company behind the show.
The plaintiffs argue that as participants in the reality show, they were essentially employees of Donaldson's company and the other creators of the project. They claim the organizers coerced them into signing contracts with unlawful conditions, designed to avoid adhering to labor laws and paying related taxes. They allege that the production companies and Amazon shamelessly exploited the labor of the participants.
The participants of Beast Games had no privacy as they were constantly under surveillance, and their every aspect of life was controlled by the defendants. They were provided with inadequate food, limited access to hygiene supplies and medical assistance, and were cut off from the outside world, according to the lawsuit. The physical and emotional well-being of the participants was put at risk during the exhausting and intense challenges presented on the show.
The plaintiffs are seeking proper remuneration for their work, including minimum wages, compensation for overtime, and reimbursement for missed meal breaks. They also demand that the creators undertake reforms and provide employee training to prevent further instances of harassment. MrBeast's representative has promised to learn from the situation and has attributed the difficulties faced during production to extreme weather conditions, technical issues, and unexpected problems. They assert that the initial plan was always to include two thousand participants in the show and later reduce the number to one thousand.
MrBeast started his YouTube channel in 2012 and gained worldwide fame. He is known for his acts of generosity, giving away money, buying homes for strangers, and funding environmental initiatives. Despite his immense popularity, MrBeast has faced criticism for the authenticity of his videos and allegations of using paid actors. Nevertheless, his influence in the online world remains significant.
