NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� MrBeast is accused of creating 鈥渦nsafe鈥� employment conditions, including sexual harassment, and misrepresenting contestants' odds at winning his new Amazon reality show's $5 million grand prize in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by five unnamed participants.
The filing alleges that the multimillion-dollar company behind YouTube's most popular channel failed to provide minimum wages, overtime pay, uninterrupted meal breaks and rest time for competitors 鈥� whose 鈥渨ork on the show was the entertainment product鈥� sold by MrBeast.
A spokesperson for MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, told The Associated Press in an email that he had no comment on the new lawsuit.
Donaldson鈥檚 鈥淏east Games鈥� was touted as the 鈥渂iggest reality competition." It was supposed to put the North Carolina content creator in front of audiences beyond the YouTube platform where his record 316 million subscribers routinely watch his whimsical challenges that often carry lavish gifts of direct cash.
But its initial before it even wrapped. Donaldson鈥檚 companies cast 2,000 people in an initial tryout this July where half could advance to the actual show's filming in Toronto.
Contestants only learned upon their arrival that the Las Vegas pool surpassed 1,000 competitors, according to the lawsuit, which significantly reducing their chances of victory. The lawsuit argues the 鈥渇alse advertising鈥� violated California business laws that prohibit sweepstakes operators from 鈥渕isrepresenting in any manner the odds of winning any prize."
The five anonymous competitors also said that 鈥渓imited sustenance" and 鈥渋nsufficient medical staffing鈥� endangered their health.
The filing alleges that production staff created a 鈥渢oxic鈥� work environment for women who faced 鈥渟exual harassment鈥� throughout the contest. Those sections are heavily redacted in an effort to comply with 鈥渃onfidentiality provisions鈥� signed by the competitors, according to a press release from their lawyers.
The lawsuit adds to the complaints 鈥� circulated by online influencers in the shoot's immediate aftermath 鈥� that an unorganized set had left some contestants injured and lacking in regular access to food and medication. Other participants have told AP they received two light meals each day and MrBeast branded chocolate bars.
MrBeast鈥檚 team also faces new accusations they 鈥渒nowingly misclassified鈥� the contestants鈥� employment status to the Nevada Film Commission in order to receive a state tax credit for more than $2 million.
Among other forms of relief, the five competitors seek an order that MrBeast institute 鈥渨orkplace reforms鈥� and awards 鈥渁ll wages owed."
Last month, amid , Donaldson of his YouTube empire's internal culture and outlined plans to require company-wide sensitivity training.
No more details have been divulged and no date has been publicized for the reality game show's release.
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James Pollard, The Associated Press
