MrBeast’s documented controversies, explained: Beast Games, Lunchly, Chichén Itzá and more

MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is the biggest creator on YouTube, and he has been at the center of several public disputes. This explainer covers only ones with named reporting, filings or on-the-record responses, and it says who alleged what. Everything below is an allegation or a claim unless we say otherwise. Last checked Oct 19, 2026.

2021: former editors describe a tough workplace

In May 2021, The New York Times reported that former employees described a difficult work environment. Per Business Insider’s summary, editor Matt Turner, who worked for Donaldson from 2018 to 2019, told the Times he was scolded on an almost daily basis. Another editor, Nate Anderson, said Donaldson was a perfectionist who made unreasonable demands. A representative for MrBeast declined the Times’ request for comment on the working-conditions allegations.

2024: Beast Games

In Aug 2024, contestants told The New York Times and YouTuber Rosanna Pansino that they got little food and had trouble sleeping, and that medications and other items they handed over at check-in were delivered late, per Tubefilter’s summary of the Times report. A MrBeast spokesperson told the Times that filming, which began July 18, was “unfortunately complicated by the CrowdStrike incident [on July 19], extreme weather and other unexpected logistical and communications issues,” and that the production had “taken steps to ensure that we learn from this experience.”

On Sept 16, 2024, a class action was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of at least five anonymous contestants. NBC News reported that it names Amazon and a production company linked to Donaldson as defendants, and alleges contestants were “underfed, overtired” and that the defendants did not provide enough food or drink. The plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote that the defendants “shamelessly exploited” contestants’ labor. A representative for Donaldson declined to comment, and an Amazon official could not immediately be reached. These are allegations in a lawsuit, not findings. We did not find a reported ruling or settlement in the sources we opened.

2024-2025: Lunchly

1. Sept 16, 2024Lunchly launches, backed by MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI, per Dexerto.
2. Oct 20, 2024Pansino tweets that the cheese in her “The Pizza” kit had mold and the expiration date was two months away. In her video she said only one product she tested had mold.
3. Oct 22, 2024Lunchly tells Dexerto its products go through “a stringent review process” including USDA approvals.
4. Jul 31, 2025Consumer Reports says Lunchly kits are not healthier than Lunchables.

Consumer Reports said it found detectable lead and cadmium in the three Lunchly kits it tested. Two contained more than half of its “Level of Concern” for lead, and The Pizza was at 78%. CR also said that none of the Lunchly or other kits it tested exceeded that level, and Lunchables kits it tested earlier showed 69% to 74%. Lunchly challenged the testing, saying it did not “believe that the testing performed on the Lunchly kits provides reliable data,” and noted that heavy metals are “naturally occurring.”

May 2025: Chichén Itzá

After MrBeast posted a video from Maya sites in Mexico on May 10, 2025, Mexico’s heritage institute INAH said the permit issued to production company Full Circle Media did not allow use of the sites to advertise commercial brands, per The Guardian. The BBC reported that Mexico sought compensation from the producers. President Claudia Sheinbaum asked for an investigation into how the permit was granted.

A MrBeast representative denied some of the accusations, telling the BBC: “No advertisement material was shot on any archaeological sites overseen by INAH.” The spokesperson said the video was meant to highlight the sites.

The money side

Donaldson said on the Diary of a CEO podcast that “It was not a good financial decision to make ‘Beast Games’,” and that he lost “tens of millions” despite Amazon’s $100 million budget, per Entrepreneur. He said he had no regrets.

Where it stands

We did not find a reported ruling or settlement for the Beast Games class action in the sources above. The Lunchly dispute rests on competing statements: Consumer Reports and Lunchly still disagree about its testing. This page will be updated when new documented developments appear.