That many of the potential readers of this article do not know Mr. Beast is a perfect example of fame in these times, as omnipresent as it is segmented. The creature in question is called James Donaldson, although everyone calls him Jimmy. He was born in Kansas 26 years ago, has been on the Internet since 2012 and, well, with 300 million followers he is by far the most popular. youtuber the biggest on the planet. That, of course, makes him one of the most media-friendly celebrities among young people and one of the richest. He is the king of the internet, and his videos rack up tens of millions of views in just a few hours. But ask anyone over 35 if they know him.
The truth is that his videos are a spectacle, an impossible mix between The Squid Game, Yellow humor and extreme survival. He might bury himself in a monitored coffin for seven days or force two strangers to survive in a remote forest for a couple of months. He might also take his friends for a week to a desert island or a cave with no more resources (supposedly) than those strictly necessary to survive. In addition, the boy has a particular fondness for squandering money: he gives away houses, phones and computers, cars, wads of cash, yachts. People who participate in his videos, if they pass the tests, win real fortunes.
At the same time, he has developed two very profitable lines of investment. On the one hand, he has invested in businesses: chocolates, water, hamburgers, toys (without going into whether they are healthy, it must be said that the chocolates are good, by the way). On the other hand, he has invested in something much more profitable: his own image. And he has used a large part of his fortune (which according to the source ranges between 100 and 1,000 million dollars) in becoming a philanthropist: He has built 100 water wells in Africa, created a project to clean the seas and one of his foundations has already planted more than 20 million trees around the world. Mr. Beast is followed and admired, but he is also respected among a large part of the audience, who see in him not only a celebrity, but someone with values; a good guy, an example to follow.
The fact is that the whole empire is in turmoil. A couple of years ago, one of the friends who appeared in the videos, Chris Tyson, was the target of transphobic insults from many users as his figure became slimmer, his voice became more subtle and his hair grew longer. In April of last year, Tyson confirmed that he was undergoing hormone treatment, declared himself non-binary and changed his name to Ava. The transphobic insults did not subside. Jimmy, of course, took his side.
I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone. It was not my intention. Seeing recent events we’ve mutually decided it’s best I permanently step away from all things MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and mental health.
— Ava Kris Tyson (@kristyson_) July 23, 2024
But Tyson is now in the middle of a hurricane after accusations from several youtubers of having had sexual conversations with minors. Tyson has denied that he did groomingbut he has apologized “to anyone he has hurt” with his “unacceptable social media posts,” and has announced that he is leaving the internet to focus on his “family and mental health.” Tyson’s is not the only cloud on the horizon: as if it were a coordinated attack, several former employees, such as video editor Ty Ore, Mr. Beast has been accused of non-payment, visual manipulation and theft of ideas. And one of the participants in one video, Jake Weddle, has claimed that he felt tortured when, for one episode, he agreed to spend a month in complete isolation in exchange for $300,000. Mr. Beast has not addressed this issue, but 250 videos are posted every day trying to discredit him.
Ty Ore, the latest person to release an exposé on Mr Beast, has set up a $1.7 Million Go Fund Me to support his battle against Mr Beast and the wrongdoing of his company. pic.twitter.com/v53Hgph2Oz
— Irrational Chad (@IrrationalChad) August 11, 2024
The most famous guy in the world faces a perfect storm that has revolutionized the Internet. It may be a conspiracy to overthrow his empire, but it may also be something simpler and more terrifying. Many of the digital celebrities, especially those focused on a younger audience, have been living in a sort of glittering fifties, amassing fortunes but protected from some of the shadows that ordinary fame brings today – media accusations rather than legal ones, parallel trials, confrontation between defenders and detractors, undeserved and implacable hatred. A happy world that, quite simply, has perhaps broken. The courts will speak if all this is brought to court, but, in the meantime, welcome to adult fame, Jimmy. With all its lights, and all its miseries.
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