Major Controversies Surrounding MrBeast: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around MrBeast—discover key moments of controversy.

James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is a prominent American YouTuber, media personality, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He's famous for his engaging, high-production videos featuring extravagant challenges and substantial monetary donations. Boasting the most subscribers of any individual YouTube channel and significant presence on TikTok, MrBeast has built a massive online following through his unique content style and philanthropic endeavors.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

February 2018: Allegations of Difficult Work Environment by Matt Turner

In February 2018, Matt Turner, who worked as an editor for Donaldson, claimed that Donaldson berated him almost daily.

May 2018: The Atlantic Publishes Article on Donaldson's Homophobic Slurs

In May 2018, The Atlantic published an article detailing Donaldson's past use of homophobic slurs on Twitter during his teenage years. He later removed the tweets.

September 2019: Matt Turner's Departure

In September 2019, Matt Turner left from his position as editor for Donaldson.

October 2019: Allegations of Difficult Work Environment by Matt Turner on Twitter

In October 2019, Matt Turner released a deleted Twitter thread that stated that he was "yelled at, bullied, called mentally retarded and replaceable by Donaldson every single day".

November 23, 2019: Counterfeit Money Accusation

On November 23, 2019, Donaldson was accused of using counterfeit money in his "I Opened A FREE BANK" video, prompting him to explain that he used fake money to avoid participant safety concerns, and that participants received real checks after the shoot.

October 2020: Influencer Trivia Tournament

In October 2020, Donaldson hosted an influencer trivia tournament featuring 24 competitors with a grand prize of $300,000. The tournament's winners were siblings Charli and Dixie D'Amelio, which caused controversy due to claims that they cheated.

February 2021: Clubhouse Controversy

During a Clubhouse room in February 2021, Donaldson removed entrepreneur Farokh Sarmad after he allegedly said he could not pronounce his name, a move that Sarmad later said was racist. Sarmad's claims were questioned and denied by other Clubhouse users.

April 2021: Current Partnership and Cryptocurrency Backlash

In April 2021, Donaldson became a long-term investor and partner of Current, a financial technology company. That same month, he faced backlash after fans lost money in a cryptocurrency scheme he had invested in and promoted.

May 2021: Allegations of Difficult Work Environment

In a May 2021 New York Times article, former employees of Donaldson alleged he fostered a difficult work environment, including daily beratement and lack of credit for work. Donaldson disputed these claims, saying they have high standards but it's not a toxic environment.

April 2022: Donaldson Announces Departure from Evangelical Christianity

In April 2022, Donaldson announced in an interview with Rolling Stone that he had left evangelical Christianity and now identifies as an agnostic theist. He also disavowed previous anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.

March 3, 2023: Feastables Display Cleanup Request

On March 3, 2023, Donaldson asked fans on Twitter to improve Feastables displays in stores and obscure competitors, offering a $5,000 raffle entry as an incentive. This led to criticism and accusations of exploiting fans for unpaid labor.

April 2023: Donaldson Defends Chris Tyson Against Backlash

In April 2023, Donaldson defended Chris Tyson, his childhood friend and employee, against backlash after she acknowledged receiving feminizing hormone replacement therapy. Donaldson disavowed transphobia and affirmed his friendship with Tyson, who later came out as a trans woman.

July 31, 2023: Lawsuit Against Virtual Dining Concepts

On July 31, 2023, Donaldson sued Virtual Dining Concepts in federal court to end their partnership, alleging damage to his reputation by prioritizing expansion over food quality for MrBeast Burger. He also claimed he received no payment from the partnership. Virtual Dining Concepts disputed the claims.

July 24, 2024: Removal of Ava Kris Tyson from MrBeast Brand

On July 24, 2024, Donaldson removed Ava Kris Tyson, an original cast member, from the MrBeast brand due to allegations of sexual misconduct with minors and pressuring a former employee for sexual acts. Tyson stated she willingly stepped away.

September 2024: Class Action Lawsuit

In September 2024, James Donaldson, MrBeast, was named as one of the subjects of a class action lawsuit alleging mistreatment, sexual harassment, and unpaid wages on his series, Beast Games.

September 2024: Class Action Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Beast Games Contestants

In September 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of five former Beast Games contestants against Donaldson, Amazon, and associated production companies. The lawsuit alleges mistreatment, sexual harassment, and unpaid expenses and wages, claiming violations occurred to gain Nevada tax credits.

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