In September 2024, five contestants from the reality competition show Beast Games filed a class-action lawsuit against YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, Amazon, and associated production companies. The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment, unsafe working conditions, and other mistreatments during the production of the $100 million show.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
The plaintiffs claim they were subjected to unreasonable, unsafe, and unlawful employment conditions, including sexual harassment, failure to prevent harassment, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and failure to provide uninterrupted meal and rest breaks. They also allege failure to pay minimum wages, failure to pay overtime, false advertising, and unfair business practices. The lawsuit further states that several contestants ended up hospitalized, while others suffered physical and mental complications due to chronic mistreatment and hostile working conditions, particularly for female contestants.
MrBeast’s Response
In response to the allegations, MrBeast addressed the claims on social media, stating that there is “tons of behind the scenes dropping when the show does to show how blown out of proportion these claims were.” He added that he “can’t release it now because it would spoil the games.” However, he and the production companies have not made any formal statements regarding the lawsuit.
Potential Impact on the Show
Legal experts suggest that while the lawsuit may not immediately halt the production of Beast Games, it could lead to significant changes in how future seasons are produced. The allegations, if proven true, could result in increased scrutiny of the show’s working conditions and potentially affect its reputation and viewership.
As of now, the lawsuit is ongoing, and both MrBeast and Amazon have declined to comment further. The outcome of this legal action could have broader implications for reality television productions and the treatment of contestants in the industry.
