YouTube star MrBeast and Amazon are facing a class-action lawsuit from contestants on the reality show “Beast Games.”
The complaint, a redacted copy of which was obtained by Variety, was filed this week on behalf of five unnamed contestants and alleges a number of causes of action, including sexual harassment, pay issues, and more.
The suit says that MrBeast’s production company, the independent production company Off One’s Base LLC, and Amazon, exploited the labor” of contestants and created a “toxic and hostile” workplace.
It says that female contestants “particularly and collectively suffered” and that there was a prevailing “culture of misogyny and sexism” in the work environment.
On the sexual harassment allegation, the suit cites a supposed employee handbook called “How to Succeed in MrBeast Production,” which it says contains lines such as: “It’s okay for the boys to be childish,” and “If talent wants to draw a dick on the white board in the video or do something stupid, let them… Really do everything you can to empower the boys when filming and help them make content. Help them be idiots.”
In a statement, one unnamed female plaintiff said that the women on the show “honestly could not have been respected less—as people, much less employees—if they tried,” per Variety.
“I wanted to join because I was a fan of MrBeast and his videos made me smile during the COVID-19 pandemic. I expected to be challenged, but I didn’t think I would be treated like nothing — less than nothing,” she said.
The suit says that the defendants also failed to pay minimum wages and overtime, failed to give contestants uninterrupted meal breaks or rest breaks, and exposed participants to “dangerous circumstances and conditions.”
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has YouTube’s most subscribed channel, with 316 million followers.
He shot to fame with viral videos of physical challenges and extravagant giveaways.
But Donaldson has faced increasing backlash in recent months over safety concerns among contestants on “Beast Games” and news that a former employee was accused of inappropriately messaging a minor.
The star has seemingly taken some action to try to salvage his reputation, hiring a $2,000-an-hour attorney who has previously represented Alec Baldwin and Elon Musk.
Representatives for MrBeast and Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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