MrBeast and Amazon named in lawsuit over show

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, signed a deal with Amazon in March to produce Beast Games

Getty Images Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, has short mousy brown hair and a short beard. He wears a white American football jersey with a red number one on his left shoulder. He is looking out of the frame over his left shoulder and is pictured against a red background. — MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, signed a deal with Amazon in March to produce Beast Games

YouTuber MrBeast is named in court documents alleging that contestants on his upcoming series Beast Games were “shamelessly exploited.”

Contestants have sued the production companies involved in the show, including MrB2024 and Amazon.

First announced in March, the series offered 1,000 contestants the chance to win a cash prize of $5 million (£3.5 million) and promised to be the biggest live game show in the world.

But in a case filed in a Los Angeles court on Monday, participants claim they were not paid, were subjected to unsafe conditions and experienced sexual harassment.

According to the documents, MrB2024 is believed to be owned “in whole or in part, directly or indirectly” by MrBeast – real name Jimmy Donaldson – the world’s largest YouTuber with over 300 million subscribers.

BBC Newsbeat has contacted MrBeast and Amazon for comment.

MrBeast is known online for his philanthropic stunts and high-budget videos

In the partially redacted legal documents, five anonymous participants filed lawsuits on behalf of all those involved.

They claim that the production team monitored them, controlled their sleeping hours and clothing, and denied them privacy and access to the outside world.

They were “malnourished and overtired,” the statement said, and meals were distributed “sporadically and sparsely,” endangering “the health and well-being” of the participants.

The 54-page document also lists allegations of an unsafe environment in which candidates are crammed into small areas, dangerous sets exist, and convicted criminals can participate due to inadequate background checks.

Some, it is said, were physically injured and did not receive adequate access to medical care.

“Culture of misogyny”

The set was also accused of promoting a “culture of misogyny and sexism” and creating a “hostile environment” for women, which also included sexual harassment.

“This was not only noticed, but also allowed,” the document says. “And apparently this happened because of marching orders from the very top.”

The candidates' lawyers say they are entitled to compensation for their time because they are “essential workers” for the production. They “did not work for free” and should be classified as employees.

All plaintiffs are demanding thousands of dollars from everyone involved to cover “unpaid wages.”

Two of the plaintiffs listed, who are women, are also seeking further compensation for allegations of hostile working conditions.

At the beginning of the year, MrBeast announced that he had hired private investigators to investigate allegations that a co-host of his channel had sexually assaulted a minor.

Ava Kris Tyson was accused by other YouTubers of sending inappropriate messages to the underage woman when she was 20. She denied the grooming allegations.

MrBeast removed them from the channel and said he “does not condone or support any of the inappropriate actions.”

Amazon has not commented, and representatives for MrBeast have not yet responded to Newsbeat's request for comment. The papers also mention a production company, Off One's Base LLP, which BBC Newsbeat was unable to reach.