MrBeast’s production arm has been sued by contestants from the upcoming Beast Games reality competition show, who claim they were subjected to harsh working conditions.
In a proposed class action complaint filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, five anonymous participants claim they were underpaid and denied necessary medical care, food, and sleep. Some accuse the production of cultivating a “culture of misogyny and sexism” in which they were sexually harassed, while staff allegedly failed to do background checks.
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In March, it was disclosed that Amazon, which is cited in the complaint, reached an agreement with MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, for his first traditional TV show: a competition advertised as “the biggest reality competition series in television history.” Donaldson serves as both host and executive producer.
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According to the complaint, participants were forced to sign “unconscionable contracts with illegal terms and illusory obligations” that misrepresented their job status. According to the lawsuit, this served as the basis for the production in order to dodge protections like as minimum and overtime wages, obligatory lunch breaks, and worker compensation benefits.
It also allegedly granted the producers a $2.2 million tax credit for filming in Nevada. If a considerable majority of the contestants were not Nevada residents, it is unlikely that the percentage of qualified expenditures in Nevada would have reached the criterion of at least 60%, which is required to get the tax benefit.
The extensively redacted lawsuit also describes claimed hazardous and cruel working conditions. The candidates claim they were poorly fed, kept under observation for days at a time, and forced to partake in perilous activities. Several competitors were injured, according to the lawsuit.
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According to the complaint, the claimed neglect of production staff resulted in sexual harassment. Though no particular incidences were mentioned, some participants claim they were subjected to a “hostile and toxic work environment” in which women were forced to face “severe embarrassment and unfair disadvantage.” They say that their concerns were rejected.
“Apparently, this was allowed because of marching orders from the top,” the complaint adds.
The lawsuit references a guidebook provided to employees called “How to Succeed in MrBeast Production,” which says, “It’s okay for the boys to be childish.” It continues, “If talent wants to doodle a dick on the white board in the video or do something ridiculous, let them. Do whatever you can to empower the boys while filming and assisting them in creating content. “Help them be idiots.”
Beast Games was announced as having the largest single payment in television and streaming history, with 1,000 participants fighting for a $5 million prize. The participants claim that when they were on set, they learnt of a twist that substantially diminished their chances of winning.
The proposed class action includes claims for failing to pay minimum and overtime wages, sexual harassment, unfair business practices, and misleading advertising, among other things. It intends to represent all of the series’ contestants, who might face millions of dollars in damages, according to lawyers for the plaintiffs.
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