YouTube Star MrBeast Orders Internal Investigation Amid Controversies
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as YouTube sensation MrBeast, has initiated a comprehensive assessment of his company’s internal culture and an investigation into allegations of misconduct, according to a confidential memo obtained by The Associated Press.
The internal memo, addressed to “Team Beast” employees, outlines several changes aimed at improving the company’s infrastructure and work environment. These include plans to hire a chief human resources officer, implement company-wide sensitivity training, and establish an anonymous reporting mechanism for employees.
This move comes in the wake of multiple controversies surrounding Donaldson’s YouTube empire. Last month, MrBeast acknowledged “serious allegations” against a longtime collaborator, Ava Tyson, who left the company in July following accusations of sharing inappropriate sexual messages with minors. The memo reveals that Donaldson has hired law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan to investigate these claims.
Additionally, Donaldson recently admitted to using “inappropriate language” after clips of past homophobic and racist remarks circulated online. The YouTube star has also faced criticism regarding the production of his ambitious game show, “Beast Games,” set to feature 1,000 competitors vying for a $5 million prize.
The show has been described as a real-life Squid Game where challenges risk injury, even death. The New York Times spoke to “over a dozen people who participated in the first installment” of the show and wrote that they “said that they had not received adequate food or medical care and that some competitors had suffered injuries from the physical challenges.”
“He’s A Fraud”
They say when it rains, it pours. Donaldson is also being accused of being a fraud by a former member of his team. In a 53-minute video with over 12 million views as of this writing, Dogpack404 describes Donaldson as “a fraud,” and claims that his videos are rigged and that he runs illegal lotteries.
A MrBeast employee who goes by the X handle @Chucky debunked Dogpack404’s allegations and said the former employee was fired due to “erratic behavior.”
The MrBeast brand has expanded rapidly since its inception in 2016, encompassing multiple YouTube channels, a burger chain, and a line of chocolate bars. However, managing such a vast enterprise has proven challenging, particularly as Donaldson’s personal image is closely tied to the brand’s success.
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