The lawsuit draws attention to a contentious employee handbook, boldly asserting, "Embracing boyish antics is permissible," and advocating, "Facilitating their antics, even the foolish ones, is encouraged." The legal action stems from a group of disgruntled contestants of the upcoming Beast Games reality competition, who have filed a class action lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing MrBeast's production arm of fostering an abusive work environment.
Five anonymous contestants, united in their pursuit of justice, allege in their Monday filing that they were subjected to meager wages, inadequate medical attention, scanty meals, and insufficient sleep. Moreover, they claim the production fostered a toxic atmosphere rife with misogyny and sexism, where sexual harassment flourished unchecked due to alleged negligence in conducting background checks.
In a March revelation, Amazon, also named in the complaint, was disclosed to have partnered with MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, for his maiden venture into traditional television with a competition hailed as "the grandest reality series in television's annals." Donaldson wears the hats of host and executive producer with pride.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture, detailing how contestants were coerced into signing dubious contracts laden with illegal terms and spurious obligations, effectively misrepresenting their employment status. This maneuver, according to the complaint, served as a shield for the production to evade vital protections such as minimum wage, overtime compensation, mandatory meal breaks, and worker compensation benefits.
Furthermore, it is alleged that the production leveraged a $2.2 million tax credit for filming in Nevada by misrepresenting the number of resident contestants, potentially breaching the threshold of 60% qualified expenditures within the state—a prerequisite for the tax incentive.
The heavily censored lawsuit unravels a tale of appalling working conditions, where contestants recount being starved, constantly monitored, and compelled to undertake perilous challenges. The lawsuit attests to injuries sustained by several competitors, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The alleged negligence of production staff is cited as a catalyst for sexual harassment, with the complaint outlining a "hostile and poisonous work environment" where women endured "severe humiliation and unjust disadvantages." Their grievances, it is claimed, were met with indifference, with the complaint asserting, "This blatant disregard stems from directives emanating from the top echelons."
The lawsuit references a handbook titled "How to Succeed in MrBeast Production," which controversially states, "Indulging in childish behavior among the boys is acceptable," and goes on to encourage, "Encourage them to be silly, even if it means drawing lewd sketches on the whiteboard. Empower them, aid them in creating absurd content, and let them be their foolish selves."
Promising the largest single payout in television and streaming history, Beast Games initially enticed 1,000 hopefuls with the allure of a $5 million prize. However, upon arrival, contestants discovered a twist that drastically slashed their winning chances, fueling their discontent.
This proposed class action lawsuit encompasses claims of wage violations, sexual harassment, unfair business practices, and deceptive advertising, among others. It seeks to represent all contestants, potentially holding the production accountable for millions in damages, as asserted by the plaintiffs' legal representatives.
