Fri Dec 20 01:52:34 UTC 2024: ## MrBeast’s Controversial New Game Show, “Beast Games,” Premieres on Prime Video Amidst Lawsuit
**LOS ANGELES** – YouTube sensation MrBeast’s highly anticipated game show, “Beast Games,” launched Thursday on Amazon Prime Video. The show, boasting the “largest cash prize in game show history,” features 1,000 contestants competing in a series of physical and mental challenges across ten episodes for a $5 million grand prize, along with other prizes like a private island and Lamborghinis. New episodes will air weekly until mid-February.
However, the premiere is overshadowed by a September class-action lawsuit filed against MrBeast (James Donaldson) and Amazon by five contestants alleging workplace abuse. The suit claims contestants faced unsafe conditions, harassment, food and sleep deprivation, and a lack of proper medical care, with some suffering injuries requiring hospitalization. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that women contestants experienced severe embarrassment on set and that contestants were not subjected to background checks. The suit also claims contestants were forced into illegal contracts misclassifying them as volunteers to secure tax breaks. A New York Times report from August detailed similar allegations of unsafe working conditions.
MrBeast’s representatives and Amazon have not yet commented on the ongoing lawsuit.
“Beast Games,” described as a blend of “Squid Game,” “Fear Factor,” and “Survivor,” begins with 1,000 contestants and progressively eliminates participants through various challenges. The first two episodes are currently available to stream on Prime Video for subscribers. Each episode runs approximately 40 minutes. While MrBeast is known for his extravagant YouTube stunts, “Beast Games” is exclusively available on Amazon’s streaming platform.
First Piper 