A new reality competition show hosted by popular YouTuber MrBeast for Amazon Prime Video is facing a lawsuit from contestants alleging workplace abuses such as unpaid wages and sexual harassment. The show, titled “Beast Games,” involves 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million cash prize, making it the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming. MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is hosting and executive producing the show which filmed its first round at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium in July.
The class-action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of five unnamed contestants claims that they were subjected to chronic mistreatment and neglect while filming the show. The lawsuit alleges that the production companies involved failed to pay minimum wages, overtime, and prevent sexual harassment. Contestants also reported being exposed to dangerous circumstances and conditions as a condition of their employment. Complaints about the conditions on the set of the show were reportedly brought to the attention of The New York Times before the lawsuit was filed.
Contestants who signed up for the show were reportedly caught off guard by the lack of basic necessities such as food and water, as well as being mistreated. Calling attention to the lack of humane treatment, one contestant told The New York Times, “We signed up for the show, but we didn’t sign up for not being fed or watered or treated like human beings.” The lawsuit claims that contestants were not provided with uninterrupted meal breaks or rest breaks, creating conditions that led to emotional distress.
According to Variety, the lawsuit alleges that MrBeast’s production company and an independent production firm failed to provide proper working conditions for the contestants, leading to mistreatment and neglect. The contestants are seeking compensation for the unpaid wages, emotional distress, and other damages they suffered during the filming of the show. Amazon Prime Video, which is producing the show in partnership with MrBeast, has not released a statement in response to the lawsuit.
The show, “Beast Games,” has not been given a release date by Amazon MGM Studios. The planned reality competition series, which features extreme stunts and challenges for contestants, is facing backlash from former participants who claim they were mistreated and subjected to workplace abuses. As the lawsuit progresses, more details may emerge about the allegations and the conditions on set during the filming of the show. With MrBeast’s massive online following and reputation, the lawsuit is likely to draw significant attention from fans and critics alike.
