MrBeast, Amazon Sued Over ‘Beast Games’ Abuse Claims
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against YouTube star MrBeast and Amazon on behalf of five unnamed contestants from the reality competition show “Beast Games,” alleging “chronic mistreatment,” sexual harassment, and other grievances.
Variety reports that the complaint was filed Monday (Sept. 16) in Los Angeles Superior Court. It details multiple allegations regarding the mistreatment and neglect of participants in “Beast Games,” a reality competition ordered by Prime Video, in which over 1,000 contestants compete for a single $5 million prize. The suit claims that “Beast Games” has a $100 million budget.
The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status for all impacted contestants and demand that Amazon and MrBeast’s company pay for alleged unpaid wages, expenses, and punitive damages.
The lawsuit accuses Amazon, MrBeast’s production company, and the independent firm Off One’s Base LLC of numerous violations, including failure to pay minimum wages and overtime, failure to prevent sexual harassment, creating conditions that caused emotional distress, and depriving participants of meal and rest breaks. Additionally, the lawsuit claims contestants were exposed to “dangerous circumstances” as part of their employment.
“While participants knew when signing the contract that they were in for a potentially long and difficult competition, they allege they encountered much more than anticipated,” attorneys for the anonymous “Beast Games” contestants said in a statement. “Several contestants ended up hospitalized, while others reported physical and mental complications due to chronic mistreatment, degradation, and hostile working conditions, especially for the female contestants.”
The lawsuit also asserts that “Beast Games” participants were deprived of medical care, food, sleep, and basic hygiene necessities. Portions of the lawsuit, including details related to sexual harassment claims, are redacted. It states, “The Plaintiffs have filed this action using pseudonyms and conservative redactions to comply with Defendants’ broad confidentiality provisions (which Plaintiffs allege are unenforceable) and to protect the privacy of the Plaintiffs.”
However, Camron Dowlatshahi, a Los Angeles-based lawyer specializing in entertainment and employment injury cases, told TIME that the lawsuit is unlikely to go to trial, as class actions typically settle beforehand. “I would expect the same here,” he said, noting that the claims seem like “a difficult argument to win.”
MrBeast and his team have not yet released any statements.
A release date for “Beast Games” on Prime Video has not been announced. Amazon has promoted it as “the world’s largest live gameshow” with the “biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming.”
