MrBeast named in California lawsuit over 'Beast Games' show

Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – YouTuber MrBeast has been named in a lawsuit claiming that contestants on his $5 million jackpot game show were exploited.

Published on: 09/18/2024 – 10:53 p.m.Amended: 09/19/2024 – 00:32

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Participants claim they were subjected to unfair treatment and sexual harassment while taking part in what was billed as the world’s biggest live game show.

Documents filed Monday in a Los Angeles court allege that the candidates were not paid adequate wages and were not given proper meal breaks or rest periods.

The plaintiffs are identified only as Applicants 1 through 5 in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Amazon Alternative LLC and Jimmy Donaldson’s (MrBeast) production company, MRB2024 LLC.

The lawsuit seeks payment of all wages owed, an injunction prohibiting the alleged labor actions and certification of the lawsuit as a class action.

“The defendant production companies and Amazon have shamelessly exploited the work of the… individuals who served as contestants in the upcoming $100 million MrBeast-Amazon production, ‘Beast Games,’ which Amazon is promoting as the world’s largest live game show with the largest single prize in television history,” the complaint states.

The show’s entertainment value “is derived directly from the physical and emotional labor of contestants as they compete under pressure for life-changing cash prizes, with one person expected to win $5 million at the end,” the lawsuit alleges.

MrBeast did not immediately respond to a request from AFP. Amazon declined to comment.

MrBeast is one of the most popular YouTubers of all time, with over 300 million subscribers.

Its production includes competitions and challenges with sometimes high-value prizes for participants.

In addition to a significant online presence, he has also founded philanthropic ventures.

In 2023, Time magazine named him one of the most influential people in the world.

The same year, Forbes estimated his net worth at around half a billion dollars.