MrBeast, Amazon sued by contestants for alleged harassment

YouTube star MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, and Amazon are facing a lawsuit from five contestants, accusing them of workplace abuse and mistreatment while filming the Amazon Prime show Beast Games.

The reality game show, announced in March, involves over 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million prize. It reportedly has a budget of $100 million.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, accuses Donaldson and Amazon of fraud, tax avoidance, failure to pay minimum wage and fostering a toxic work environment, including reports of sexual harassment.

The plaintiffs seek compensation, alleging inadequate medical care, lack of proper food and sleep and exposure to dangerous conditions.

The class-action lawsuit also claims that producers misclassified contestants as volunteers, securing $2.5 million in Nevada tax credits.

Donaldson’s rise and controversies
Known for his giveaways and philanthropic efforts through BeastPhilanthropy, Donaldson boasts 245 million YouTube subscribers.

However
His career has been marked by controversies, including past allegations of using offensive, homophobic and racist language. He recently faced backlash for launching a “healthier” alternative to Lunchables called Lunchly (which is apparently not healthy), with other controversial YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI.

Amazon has yet to announce when Beast Games will air.