MrBeast, YouTube’s most-followed individual creator, responded to allegations that one of his co-hosts, Ava Kris Tyson, engaged in “grooming” of a minor. He said he was “disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts” and that he had hired a third-party investigator to look into the claims. Tyson, who parted ways with MrBeast amid the controversy, has denied the grooming allegations.
MrBeast, who has gained a massive fanbase for his videos featuring zany stunts and big-money giveaways, said he had “seen enough online” regarding the accusations against Tyson to “remove” her “from the company, my channel, and any association with MrBeast.”
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“Over the last few days, I’ve become aware of the serious allegations of Ava Tyson’s behavior online and I am disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts,” MrBeast wrote in a post on X on Wednesday evening.
He continued, “During that time, I have been focused on hiring an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure I have all the facts. That said, I’ve seen enough online and taken immediate action to remove Ava from the company, my channel, and any association with MrBeast. I do not condone or support any of the inappropriate actions. I will allow the independent investigators the necessary time to conduct a comprehensive investigation and will take any further actions based on their findings.”
As reported by NBC News, Tyson has recently been the target of criticism for “developing a relationship with a minor online” beginning when the person was 13 and Tyson was 20. Per the report, the controversy began after a video “analyzing online interactions between Tyson and the minor, who goes by LavaGS online, gained traction” on YouTube.
Tyson on Tuesday (July 23) said on X that she was “permanently” stepping away from participation in MrBeast projects amid the allegations, because “I don’t want these accusations to impact the hundreds of people who work at MrBeast.” She denied that she had “groomed” anyone.
“I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone. It was not my intent. 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,” Tyson wrote. “I want to add, I never groomed anyone,” she said, claiming that the person “who gets brought up” in the allegations has “vocally supported that they are false.”
Tyson continued, “Having said that, I humbly apologise to anyone I have hurt with my unacceptable social media posts, past actions, and to those who may feel betrayed by how I used to act online… In past years, I have learned that my old humor is not acceptable. I cannot change who I was, but I can continue to work on myself.”
Tyson, who is transgender, has been subjected to numerous transphobic attacks online. Last year, MrBeast responded to a suggestion that Tyson could become MrBeast’s “biggest controversy to date,” saying that Tyson “isn’t my ‘nightmare'” and that “All this transphobia is starting to piss me off.” Tyson has said that informed-consent hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had “saved my life and many others’ lives.”
MrBeast’s primary YouTube channel currently has a whopping 306 million subscribers. Donaldson, who is 26 years old, recently inked a deal with Amazon’s Prime Video for “Beast Games,” a reality-competition show promising the winner a $5 million cash prize. The show will feature 1,000 contestants vying for the payout in a “fast-paced and high-production format,” according to Prime Video. No premiere date has been announced.
