Participants bemoan terrible Beast Games conditions; Lack of food or medical care

Jimmy Donaldson’s Beast Games have faced criticism over unsuitable living conditions, with participants expressing concerns about inadequate food, clothing, and housing facilities. Overwhelmed by the large number of contestants (around 2,000), many felt that the games were poorly organized, and the staff lacked the resources to handle the situation effectively. Mr. Beast’s representative attributed some complaints to a Crowdstrike outage and adverse weather conditions.

Safety Complaints at the Beast Games

Mr. Beast is a highly influential YouTuber with a massive global following. His videos effortlessly attract tens of millions of views. On his primary YouTube channel, Mr. Beast boasts an impressive 308 million subscribers. In addition to this main channel, he also manages other YouTube platforms, primarily focusing on translations and localization of his content. These secondary channels are also gaining traction and accumulating millions of views.

Mr. Beast’s content is considered suitable for all ages, and his games and competitions are generally enjoyable to watch. However, one of his largest live games, The Beast Games, with a substantial prize pool, faced controversy towards the end of last month following a New York Times report. This report emphasized the potential risks of severe injury or even death for contestants. The report by Madison Malone Kircher involved interviews with more than a dozen participants under the condition of anonymity.

A number of contestants told the journalist that they lacked proper nutrition and healthcare. Some of these participants faced health issues, and a few had to be carried out on stretchers. The news report also mentioned several hospitalizations, emphasizing the difficult circumstances at the Beast Games.

“The contestant complained that they were poorly handled,” the report stated. “With over 2,000 participants in the competition, it was clear a large team would be necessary to manage things effectively.”

Challenges Faced during the Beast Games

In the competition, participants struggled to find sufficient meals, with some claiming they hadn’t eaten for more than 20 hours straight. Without any means to measure time, it was challenging for them to gauge how long had passed, although they guessed they were fed twice a day. Despite the agreement stating dietary restrictions would be accommodated, some contestants reported being given food they were allergic to.

During the competition, contestants offered staff sealed bags containing a week’s supply of clean underwear. Unfortunately, some participants encountered difficulties in receiving these items promptly during the event. Women who were menstruating at the time made a request to be supplied with their undergarments more frequently. However, this request was allegedly turned down, as it was considered ‘not a medical emergency’.

As a former contestant on a reality TV show, I can attest to the intense pressure and unpredictability that comes with participating. Having been in similar circumstances myself, I understand why many contestants chose to stay despite the challenging conditions. The allure of a substantial prize pool, especially for those burdened with student loans or other financial obligations, was undoubtedly a significant factor in their decision-making process.

Crowdstrike Outage Complications

A representative for Mr. Beast explained that both the severe weather conditions and the Microsoft Crowdstrike IT failure significantly affected the functioning of the Beast Games.

“Unfortunately, the event faced challenges due to the CrowdStrike incident, harsh weather conditions, and unforeseen logistical and communication problems. However, MrBeast has initiated a thorough investigation and taken necessary measures to gain insights from this experience.”

What are the Beast Games?

As someone who has spent years immersed in the world of YouTube content creation, I must say that the upcoming release of Mr. Beast’s Beast Games is truly a game-changer. With over 1,000 contestants and a staggering $5 million prize pool, this production is set to redefine what it means to win big on the platform.

A representative for Mr. Beast confirmed to the New York Times that nearly all of those invited to take part in the upcoming Toronto production have agreed to attend.