Contestants in the planned Amazon Prime Video reality TV series “Beast Games” are suing YouTube star MrBeast and Amazon, claiming they were subjected to unpaid wages, sexual harassment, and mistreatment while filming the show. The class-action lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of five unnamed contestants. “Beast Games” was announced in March as a reality competition with 1,000 contestants vying for a $5 million cash prize, hailed as the biggest single prize in television and streaming history.
MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is the star of YouTube’s most-followed channel with 316 million subscribers, where he creates extreme stunts and challenges for prizes. He is serving as the host and executive producer of “Beast Games,” which filmed its first round at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium in July. The lawsuit alleges that MrBeast’s production company and an independent production firm failed to pay minimum wages and overtime, did not prevent sexual harassment, and created conditions that exposed contestants to emotional distress and dangerous circumstances as a condition of their employment.
Prior to the lawsuit, complaints about the working conditions on the set of “Beast Games” were reported by The New York Times. Contestants who signed up for daring challenges were reportedly not provided with adequate food, water, or treatment as human beings. Amazon, which owns MGM Studios and has not announced a release date for the show, has declined to comment on the lawsuit at this time.
The lawsuit also claims that participants on the show were not given uninterrupted meal breaks or rest breaks, further adding to the mistreatment they experienced while filming. The lawsuit alleges that the contestants were exposed to dangerous circumstances and conditions as a requirement for their employment on the show. The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid wages, damages for emotional distress, and changes to workplace practices to prevent further mistreatment of employees.
It is unclear how the lawsuit will impact the production and release of “Beast Games” on Amazon Prime Video. The allegations of unpaid wages, sexual harassment, and mistreatment of contestants could potentially delay the release of the show if the claims are found to be true. Amazon and MrBeast are likely to face increased scrutiny and pressure to address the concerns raised by the lawsuit and ensure the safety and well-being of all employees involved in the production of their shows.
The lawsuit highlights the challenges faced by reality TV show contestants and the responsibility of production companies and hosts to ensure a safe and fair working environment. The outcome of the lawsuit could have long-lasting implications for the entertainment industry and the treatment of contestants on reality TV shows. It remains to be seen how Amazon and MrBeast will respond to the lawsuit and address the allegations of workplace abuses on the set of “Beast Games.”
