MrBeast Walks Back Criticism of Man Dubbed ‘More Influential’ Than Him

YouTube megastar MrBeast has walked back his dismissal of a Rolling Stone list that placed comedian Caleb Hearon above him in influence.

In Rolling Stone’s “25 Most Influential Creators of 2025” list, MrBeast, YouTube’s most-subscribed creator, was ranked seventh, while Hearon, who runs the podcast So True With Caleb Hearon, was ranked sixth.

MrBeast responded with a post on X: “According to this list a guy with 1 million followers is more influential than me. What did I do to piss off The Rolling Stones?”

Following some backlash, he walked back on this, saying: “Ngl after this I watched some of [Hearon]’s stuff and it’s actually good. I deleted the tweet I don’t want the smoke from the shooters, spare me plz.”

Ngl after this I watched some of his stuff and it’s actually good. I deleted the tweet I don’t want the smoke from the shooters, spare me plz

— MrBeast (@MrBeast) August 26, 2025

Newsweek has contacted MrBeast’s team and Penske Media Corporation, Rolling Stone’s parent company, via email for comment.

Why It Matters

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is a towering figure in the digital space with more than 300 million subscribers. His reaction to being ranked below Hearon, a progressive comedian known for sharp political commentary, highlighted a cultural divide in online influence and provoked rare public criticism from peers.

Mrbeast’s mask slipping this much in less than a year has been fascinating to watch.Sorry Jimmy, Caleb has something you’ll never have: A personalty. pic.twitter.com/Ck3WnTNfXf

— Rosanna Pansino (@RosannaPansino) August 26, 2025

Among those leading the charge was Rosanna Pansino, a fellow YouTube veteran and outspoken critic of Donaldson. “Mrbeast’s mask slipping this much in less than a year has been fascinating to watch,” Pansino wrote on X. “Sorry Jimmy, Caleb has something you’ll never have: A personality.”

The moment marked the latest escalation in a long-simmering public dispute between the two creators.

What To Know

After MrBeast posted his initial comment about the list, others spoke out against it, including @DiabolicalSpuds, who posted to his more than 30,000 followers: “Mr Beast, I cannot respond directly because you blocked me, but I wanted you to know that Caleb is a comedian who makes many laugh and you are some sort of Willy Wonka marionette being puppeted by the algorithm.”

Meanwhile, gamer geidi primes (@M0NK3Y_G1RL) said: “what’s the best part here;

“A) MrBeast not knowing who Caleb Hearon is

“B) MrBeast posting about follower count in reference to someone who actually exists in the real world not just in thumbnails

“C) MrBeast thinking The Rolling Stones wrote this

“D) All of the above.”

what’s the best part here;A) MrBeast not knowing who Caleb Hearon isB) MrBeast posting about follower count in reference to someone who actually exists in the real world not just in thumbnailsC) MrBeast thinking The Rolling Stones wrote thisD) All of the above pic.twitter.com/8jPuuOgQh2

— geidi primes (@M0NK3Y_G1RL) August 26, 2025

The account @_martymc posted: “Put some respect on Caleb!!!” And MrBeast replied to this post, saying he had deleted his original message.

It comes after Pansino and MrBeast’s strained history began in 2023, when Pansino accused Donaldson of editing her out of the top finalists in one of his “Creator Games” YouTube challenges.

She initially said she remained silent out of fear of MrBeast’s loyal fanbase but later posted messages and screenshots alleging that she had placed in the top three, only to be omitted in the final edit.

MrBeast never responded publicly, and Pansino eventually deleted her posts and apologized. But she later rescinded the apology, citing new behind-the-scenes developments, although she quickly deleted that post as well.

The feud reignited in 2024 when Pansino surfaced again with a larger set of allegations, this time focused on conditions during the filming of MrBeast’s “Beast Games,” a reality competition for Amazon Prime.

Though she did not participate in the shoot, she compiled and shared testimonials from contestants and ex-employees who alleged unsafe filming conditions, lack of food and injuries on set.

Others have also made accusations against MrBeast, including former employee DogPack404.

MrBeast addressed some of the accusations in 2024 in a two-hour interview with YouTuber Oompaville, where he denied faking any of his giveaways, using CGI with fake videos and said DogPack404 was “just spreading misinformation.”