Safety Complaints Arise from Initial Contestants in MrBeast’s Giant Competition

YouTube’s biggest sensation, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is under scrutiny due to complaints regarding the safety of contestants in the early rounds of his ambitious “Beast Games” game show. This show, set to have 1,000 competitors vying for a $5 million grand prize, has caused concern among participants.

Some contestants have taken to social media and reported to other YouTube influencers that they lacked regular access to essential needs such as food, water, and medication during the preliminary production at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Furthermore, reports surfaced of injuries among some participants during the production.

A representative for MrBeast responded by stating that his team is reviewing the process and gathering feedback from attendees before moving forward with the next phase of production, which is scheduled to take place in Toronto.

The stakes of “Beast Games” are notably high not merely for the contestants but also for MrBeast himself. His brand of “stunt philanthropy,” which often includes direct cash gifts or even houses, adds pressure to ensure the show’s success. Coincidentally, these complaints emerge as Donaldson recently acknowledged using racial and homophobic slurs in recordings from his teenage years.

The show has already been picked up by Amazon Prime Video to broadcast in 240 countries. It marks a significant venture beyond YouTube for Donaldson, whose channel boasts 307 million subscribers, including many young fans who purchase his Feastables line of candy or MrBeast-branded burgers.

In a press release from Amazon in March, Donaldson stated, “My goal is to make the greatest show possible and prove YouTubers and creators can succeed on other platforms.”

Donaldson’s companies initially cast 2,000 individuals for a preliminary tryout at Allegiant Stadium in July, with 1,000 set to advance to the main show. Amazon Prime Video, not involved in the initial shoot, has yet to comment.

According to a MrBeast spokesperson, the preliminary video shoot faced several complications, including extreme weather, a global CrowdStrike outage, and other unforeseen logistical and communication issues. The spokesperson mentioned that steps have been taken to learn from this experience, expressing excitement to welcome hundreds of men and women to what is being touted as the world’s largest game show.

Individuals eliminated from the competition were offered $1,000, and the majority of those still in contention are eager to proceed, the spokesperson added.

Some contestants anticipated challenges akin to those from Netflix’s dystopian series “Squid Game,” where indebted participants compete for substantial monetary rewards through high-stakes children’s games.

When the Associated Press reached out to three contestants for comments regarding “Beast Games,” they either did not respond or declined to speak on record due to nondisclosure agreements. However, a fourth contestant shared feelings of being deceived about the nature of the contest.

Scott Leopold, a 53-year-old father from Austin, Texas, expressed his disappointment to the AP. He believed he was competing in the actual “Beast Games,” not a precursor and felt misled about his chances of winning. He also clarified that the Las Vegas event would not stream on Amazon Prime Video. Leopold mentioned that while Donaldson should not be “villainized,” an apology would be appreciated.

“All I can conclude is that he was in over his head,” Leopold remarked. “There were too many people, and I don’t think he knew how to handle the situation.”

This is not the first time MrBeast has encountered challenges. One of his companies was involved in legal disputes with a vendor over the “MrBeast Burger” project, which received widespread criticism. Additionally, fans have previously complained about not receiving ordered merchandise or receiving incorrect items. A vendor associated with MrBeast acknowledged these issues in an online post last year, admitting their shortcomings in fulfilling orders.

Source: Associated Press