Contestants participating in MrBeast’s forthcoming Amazon reality series Beast Games have filed a class-action lawsuit against the internet personality, citing ‘chronic mistreatment’ and sexual harassment claims.
On Monday (September 16), five unnamed individuals filed a suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court, as reported by Variety.
The quintet alleges that they were victims of chronic mistreatment on the set of MrBeast and Amazon Prime Video’s show.
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The suit also states contestants were deprived of medical care, food, sleep, basic hygiene items and more while competing for the Beast Games’ $5 million cash prize.
It’s understood that these winnings are the largest amount offered in television and streaming history.
The show - spearheaded by MrBeast, AKA Jimmy Donaldson - also has a reported $100m budget.
The suit alleges that the Amazon MGM Studios project, Mr Beast’s production company, independent production firm Off One’s Base LLC and more failed to pay minimum wages and overtime; failed to prevent sexual harassment and inflicted ‘emotional distress’ on contestants.
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It also claimed the companies failed to provide participants uninterrupted meal breaks or rest breaks and exposed contestants to ‘dangerous circumstances and conditions as a condition of their employment’.
Amazon and MrBeast have been asked to rectify the alleged unpaid wages and incurred while the suit demands that the defendants pay unspecified punitive monetary damages, too.
Representatives of the anonymous Beast Games contestants said in a statement about the lawsuit, as per Variety: "While participants knew upon signing the contract at the production’s inception that they were facing a potentially long and challenging competition, they allege getting a lot more than they bargained for.
"Several contestants ending up hospitalized, while others reported suffering physical and mental complications while being subjected to chronic mistreatment, degradation and, for the female contestants, hostile working conditions.”
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When the challenge was announced earlier this year, MrBeast claimed he wanted to make the ‘greatest show possible’ with Amazon and to prove that social media stars can succeed ‘on other platforms’.
“Amazon gave me the creative control I need to try and make it happen. I hope to make the YouTube community proud,” he said at the time.
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, added: “MrBeast has captured the attention and imagination of fans of all ages, from all walks of life, and all over the world.
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“We are excited to work with Jimmy and his talented team to bring his brilliant, high production, and stakes-raising concepts to Beast Games for our global customers to experience.”
At the time of writing it isn’t known when Beast Games is expected to air on Prime Video.
LADbible Group has approached representatives of Amazon and MrBeast for comment.