Five contestants who took part in a reality competition show hosted by YouTube star MrBeast have filed a lawsuit. They are accusing MrBeast’s production company and Amazon of unfair treatment.
The contestants claim they were not paid, had to endure unsafe conditions, and were exposed to a workplace culture that treated women poorly.
The lawsuit was filed on Monday in a Los Angeles court. The show, called “Beast Games,” was announced in March and is available on Amazon Prime Video. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, said the show had more than 1,000 contestants and offered a $5 million prize.
“Unreasonable, unsafe, and unlawful” work conditions
A 54-page document outlines serious accusations against the show’s producers. Contestants say they faced “unreasonable, unsafe, and unlawful” work conditions, which caused several people to be hospitalized.
The participants also claim they were given little food and lacked proper access to hygiene products and medical care.
The document also mentions claims of sexual harassment, although many details about these allegations were removed from the public version.
MrBeast & Amazon are being sued by contestants on his upcoming ‘BEAST GAMES’ series for:
• Failure to prevent sexual harassment
• Failure to pay overtime & minimum wage
• No meal & rest breaks provided to participants“Several contestants ended up hospitalized… others… pic.twitter.com/90yBgKkXQX
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 18, 2024
The lawsuit claims that the show, with a reported $100 million production budget, used an “illegal contract” and gave “false information” to Nevada authorities. It alleges that the producers misclassified contestants as volunteers to receive tax credits. As a result, the show reportedly received $2.5 million in incentives to film in Las Vegas.
A report by The New York Times last month also highlighted claims of unsafe conditions on the set. According to unnamed contestants, some players were taken away on stretchers. They described seeing people vomit, pass out, and experience “several hospitalizations.”
Production faced CrowdStrike, and severe weather
A representative for MrBeast explained to The New York Times that the production faced several hurdles, including issues related to CrowdStrike, severe weather, and unexpected logistical challenges. They also confirmed that an official review of the show is currently in progress.
MrBeast has not responded to CNN’s request for a statement, while Amazon chose not to comment on the matter.
“Beast Games” still does not have a set release date. MrBeast had previously promoted the show as aiming to break records for the largest game show ever, with the most participants and the biggest prize money. Currently, that title belongs to Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge.”
MrBeast, one of YouTube’s biggest stars, has gained a massive following with 245 million subscribers. His videos regularly attract over 100 million views, with some reaching nearly half a billion.
Known for his elaborate stunts, Jimmy Donaldson, the man behind the channel, has also made headlines for his distinctive approach to philanthropy, using his platform to fund large-scale charitable efforts, as reported by CNN.
