A lawsuit filed against YouTube star MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, accuses him of creating unsafe employment conditions for contestants on his new Amazon reality show, Beast Games. The lawsuit alleges that the company behind the show failed to provide minimum wages, overtime pay, meal breaks, and rest time for competitors, whose work on the show was the entertainment product sold by MrBeast.
The lawsuit also claims that contestants' odds of winning the $5 million grand prize were misrepresented, with contestants only learning upon arrival that there were far more competitors than initially disclosed. Additionally, the filing alleges that the production staff created a toxic work environment for women, with reports of sexual harassment throughout the contest.
MrBeast's team is also accused of knowingly misclassifying contestants' employment status to receive a state tax credit. The lawsuit seeks workplace reforms and payment of all owed wages for the five anonymous competitors.
This legal action comes amid other public relations crises for MrBeast, who recently ordered a full assessment of his company's internal culture and plans to implement sensitivity training. No release date has been announced for the reality game show.
MrBeast's spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. The allegations have not been proven in court, and MrBeast has not publicly addressed the accusations. The lawsuit adds to the growing scrutiny of working conditions on reality shows and the treatment of contestants in the entertainment industry.