Could a Lawsuit Against MrBeast and Amazon Get Their Show Beast Games Canceled?

As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous stars, I find the situation surrounding Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, to be deeply concerning. The allegations against him and his associates, particularly those involving mistreatment and hostile work conditions on “Beast Games,” are far from amusing.

For several months, a whirlwind of accusations has been circulating about Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, along with individuals and businesses associated with him.

As an enthusiastic admirer, I’d like to share some exciting news about a game show on Prime Video named “Beast Games,” which was hyped as the largest reality competition series ever earlier this year by Amazon. Recently, a class-action lawsuit has been brought forth on behalf of at least five anonymous participants who took part in this program, alleging certain misdeeds during its production.

The complaint, filed Monday with the Los Angeles Superior Court, names MrBeast-linked company MRB2024 LLC, Amazon Studios’ unscripted division Amazon Alternative LLC, and independent production company Off One’s Base LLC, as defendants and seeks a jury trial to determine unspecified monetary damages—“likely totaling in the millions of dollars,” according to a press statement from the plaintiffs’ lawyers—including for alleged unpaid wages and subjecting participants, particularly female ones, to hostile work conditions.

In essence, the lawsuit might not make it to court because such cases often get settled before trial, according to Camron Dowlatshahi, a lawyer from Los Angeles who specializes in entertainment and employment injury cases. He expressed his belief that this situation would likely follow suit, also pointing out that the arguments presented in the complaint seem challenging to validate.

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I’m sharing a concern that surfaced in Variety, where it’s claimed that certain individuals have mistreated and neglected over a thousand participants of the Beast Games this summer. These participants, we allege, were exploited as if they were employees and are entitled to remuneration for their services, as well as compensation for numerous labor law infractions they endured. Moreover, it’s alleged that the number of contestants in the competition, which influenced the likelihood of winning the heavily promoted $5 million prize, was misrepresented to participants. Initially, it was said to be 1,000, but it was later revealed to be more—reportedly, Donaldson informed contestants that there were actually 2,000 initial participants.

The attorneys’ statement claimed that although participants were aware they might encounter a tough and prolonged competition when they initially signed the contract for the production, they ended up experiencing much more hardship than expected. This included multiple contestants being hospitalized, others reporting physical and mental health issues due to ongoing mistreatment, degradation, and for female contestants, hostile work environments.

As of now, there’s no confirmed release date for “Beast Games”. Lawyer Dowlatshahi shared with TIME that he doesn’t anticipate the ongoing lawsuit leading to its cancellation. However, unfavorable publicity could potentially impact future seasons, possibly resulting in them being dropped or not renewed. Furthermore, if the defendants are found guilty and held liable in the trial, it would presumably mean the end of the show.

Representatives for MrBeast and Amazon did not immediately respond to TIME’s requests for comment.

The main issues in this lengthy lawsuit are centered around the plaintiffs’ assertion that the contestants on the show were actually employees under California law, but were misclassified as independent contractors by the defendants. This alleged misclassification led to several violations of labor laws: not paying minimum wages and overtime, failing to provide meal and rest breaks, and multiple other infractions. The lawsuit also alleges that the companies had excessive control over the contestants’ daily activities, such as their access to personal items, movement, clothing choices, and sleeping arrangements.

In a statement, Robert N. Pafundi, a leading attorney for the plaintiffs, explained that the participants agreed to contracts and were assured payment for their work. The fact that they relied on this compensation and were frequently monitored by the production team indicates they are considered employees under California law.

As stated in the lawsuit, the television program boasted a budget of approximately $100 million. Furthermore, Donaldson mentioned during an interview with YouTubers Colin and Samir in March that there were no financial limitations, and Amazon had granted him full creative control and the freedom to execute his ideas as he pleased.

The accusation claims that Donaldson refused to utilize the supposed abundant resources for ensuring fair wages or even the minimum-required legal working conditions. Instead, it claims, the defendants leveraged their stronger negotiation power to make contestants sign contracts with questionable terms and illicit obligations, which were considered unfair. Furthermore, the accusation alleges that the defendants falsified employment conditions of the production in order to unjustifiably claim tax credits.

In my critique, I must emphasize one of the gravest charges against these filmmakers is their alleged creation, perpetuation, and cultivation of a culture rife with sexual harassment.

As alleged in the complaint, the female participants collectively experienced hardship due to the fact that the atmosphere of Beast Games was systematically nurturing a culture of misogyny and sexism. Regrettably, it appears that the staff members failed to take any action to address these issues.

According to entertainment attorney Dowlatshahi, it’s quite challenging to establish a class-action case for sexual harassment claims because such incidents are usually specific to individuals rather than generalizable across a group, making them unsuitable for collective decision-making.

As a passionate cinephile, let me share my perspective on a recent case that’s caught my attention. Certain details have been withheld to protect privacy and confidentiality, specifically those pertaining to allegations of inappropriate behavior. However, in a press release from the plaintiffs’ legal team, an anonymous female plaintiff expressed her disappointment and discomfort: “I was anticipating tough times, but I never imagined being devalued—not even close to valued. And as one of the women involved, I can attest that it truly felt like a hostile work environment for us. It’s hard to express how little we were respected—as individuals and employees—if they had tried any harder.

The complaint points to a purported handbook leaked last month by YouTuber Rosanna Pansino titled “How to Succeed in MrBeast Production,” which the complaint says “provides insight into the boys-will-be-boys working conditions that are seemingly promoted by Mr. Donaldson.” The handbook, which has not been verified, states in one part: “If talent wants to draw a dick on the white board in the video or do something stupid, let them. (assuming they know all the risks and arn’t [sic] missing context on why it’s not safe) People like when we are in our natural element of stupidity. Really do everything you can to empower the boys when filming and help them make content. Help them be idiots.”

Lizelle S. Brandt, one of the main lawyers for the plaintiffs, stated that the production team not just took part in but actually instigated a work environment that was hostile and ultimately led to the sexual harassment of female employees. Although we can’t reverse the harm they experienced from those they relied on, we aim to provide them with some degree of justice.

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2024-09-18 12:06