As a seasoned observer with a keen eye for detail and a heart full of empathy, I find myself deeply troubled by the unfolding saga of MrBeast’s “Beast Games.” Having spent years navigating the tumultuous seas of production, I can attest that the tales of disorganization, safety concerns, and payroll issues are not mere exaggerations but a grim reflection of reality.
MrBeast, originally known as James Stephen Donaldson, is a globally recognized YouTuber, philanthropist, and currently among the wealthiest game show hosts ever. He gained his massive following by dishing out millions on camera and organizing extravagant contests on his channel, such as recreating the popular series “Squid Game” in real life. Now, he’s teamed up with Amazon Prime Video to produce “Beast Games,” a reality show where 1,000 contestants face off in a series of challenges for a whopping $5 million grand prize.
MrBeast is no stranger to famous collaborations — he once got Hans Zimmer to compose a score for one of his YouTube videos – but this time around he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Creating “Beast Games” involved two massive shoots in Las Vegas and Toronto, and there have been some concerning stories coming out of both productions. Contestants say they faced uncomfortable and outright dangerous conditions while participating in the show, and even the “Beast Games” crew has some complaints to share. Whether or not “Beast Games” goes down in history as one of the best reality TV shows of all time, it’ll likely be remembered for being one of the most controversial. Here’s how the shady side of “Beast Games” has landed its creator in hot water.
Everyone had to sign some wild agreements
It’s understandable that a production as extensive as “Beast Games” would come with a substantial amount of legal requirements. The program must obtain consent from contestants for what they will be filming, and it must ensure that no one reveals the ending before broadcast. Despite these precautions, some contributors to “Beast Games” expressed unease about the contracts they had to sign.
The competitors were required to put their names on legal documents prior to participating in the games, and they agreed to waive several rights for the opportunity to win $5 million. As reported by The New York Times, each competitor signed an agreement containing a clause that acknowledged potential risks such as death, illness, or severe physical harm, including but not limited to exhaustion, dehydration, overexertion, burns, and heatstroke. While it’s expected for shows like “Beast Games” to safeguard themselves from legal responsibility, the explicit mention of mortal danger in a contract for a YouTube-based game show is still somewhat unsettling.
Competitors consented to relinquish all prizes and pay a fine of half a million dollars if they ruined the finale of the program. On the other hand, the crew’s confidentiality agreements were especially stringent. These contracts specified that team members could not discuss the production process in public for three years, and they had to renounce their right to take legal action against the show or its creators for any reason.
The production was non-union
One unique aspect of “Beast Games” television series is its reliance on a non-union production team, as opposed to many other shows. YouTuber Rosanna Pansino discussed this in a video, revealing messages she received from individuals who had worked on the show’s sets in Las Vegas and Toronto. In her video, Pansino stated that she learned from a reliable industry insider that the creators of “Beast Games,” specifically Jimmy and his team, deliberately opted for a non-union setup. The source claimed that MrBeast sought to bypass certain expenses such as benefits payments and stringent safety rules associated with hiring a union crew.
According to reports from the crew of “Beast Games” in Toronto, their account aligns with what Rolling Stone has learned. The filming in Toronto employed a completely non-union team, which wasn’t well received by the crew. As one crew member stated, “The union world has taken a significant hit and hasn’t bounced back yet, so they had the chance to hire skilled professionals for every aspect, but they didn’t want to pay.” Rolling Stone uncovered multiple casting calls and ads for “Beast Games” that explicitly sought non-union workers.
Contestants didn’t really know their odds of winning
Although they were required to sign numerous contracts before joining “Beast Games,” several participants felt that the production failed to be transparent about the early stages of the competition. The Amazon Prime Video series is taglined as “1,000 players, $5 million, 1 winner.” This is what most contestants anticipated for the initial phase of the show; however, some claim they were taken aback when the actual games commenced, as it seemed the rules had been altered unexpectedly.
Initially, forming “Beast Games” started with a grand competition held in Las Vegas, attended by 2,000 participants. The objective was to whittle down this large group to only 1,000 finalists who would then film “Beast Games” in Toronto. However, the competitors were unaware that their odds of winning were only half of what they had anticipated. It’s important to note that participating in the show didn’t come with any promises of financial reward. Many participants were merely aspiring for screen time on TV or a feature on MrBeast’s YouTube channel. Unfortunately, even these aspirations didn’t materialize as quickly as hoped.
Most contestants didn’t actually get any screen time
Participants in the “Beast Games” are eagerly striving to claim the $5 million grand prize, but numerous contestants who registered for the show had aspirations beyond just this substantial reward. They sought not only the allure of the large sum or the excitement of the event itself, but also opportunities to network, possibly meet MrBeast personally, and above all, gain exposure on television.
As a devoted fan of “Beast Games,” I was among the many who eagerly anticipated our chance to shine, but walked away feeling disheartened after my participation in the Las Vegas event. Speaking with Rolling Stone, actor Scott Leopold shared similar sentiments, expressing shock at the challenging conditions we faced while filming the show. However, what left me even more frustrated was the realization that I might have competed for absolutely no purpose at all.
As a devoted fan, I found myself questioning my involvement with “Beast Games”. Initially, I was unsure of its potential role on their YouTube channel and whether compensation would be part of the deal. The lack of transparency about expectations for competitors and the minimal screen time we might receive in the final product left me perplexed – “Why am I putting in all this effort?” I wondered.
The Las Vegas production was completely disorganized
Troubles with the “Beast Games” emerged once filming commenced in Las Vegas. Initially, there were over 2,000 contestants involved, and it quickly became apparent that the “Beast Games” crew was far from ready for such a large number of people. As reported by Madison Malone Kircher of The New York Times to Slate, it appeared that MrBeast and his production team lacked the resources necessary to feed, move, and manage such a vast crowd.
Organizing and managing 2,000 individuals for hotel accommodations, teaming them up for competitions, and readying them for extended intricate tasks was an overwhelming task. MrBeast has experience with elaborate video productions, but nothing on his YouTube channel compares to the magnitude of “Beast Games,” especially the kickoff event in Las Vegas. To complicate matters further, competitors were prohibited from bringing any personal belongings along.
In an effort to prevent any cheating scandals during their game shows, Beast Games required contestants to relinquish personal items such as clothing, medication, and other necessities to the show’s staff. However, figuring out how to retrieve those items or what to do next for the show often posed challenges. Kircher mentioned that some people he spoke with shared their experiences of interacting with production staff who were extremely kind, but unfortunately, they had no information on hand.
Las Vegas contestants were injured by the dozen
If you’ve experienced any of the extravagant competitions produced by MrBeast on his YouTube channel, you understand they can escalate rapidly and become quite extreme. While game shows have had injuries in the past, the ambition to emulate MrBeast’s YouTube mayhem might have made “Beast Games” a tad perilous for its participants.
At the Las Vegas competition known as “Beast Games,” multiple competitors sustained injuries, with some requiring immediate medical attention and hospitalization. A representative from a local hospital reportedly stated, “I’m aware of about three to four emergency transports today. The overnight staff described the situation as chaotic, so I’m unsure of the exact number of patients transported … The on-site medical team was understaffed and struggled to cope with the high volume of cases last night.
Rosanna Pansino, a popular YouTuber, had some troubling accounts about the Las Vegas shoot incident. In her video dated July 26th, she disclosed messages allegedly from participants of “Beast Games,” who said they saw participants being eliminated due to broken bones during the competition challenges. These contestants contacted Pansino, stating that the “Beast Games” organizers knew about safety issues but failed to take action to prevent injuries among players.
Contestants say they were denied medicine
At the “Beast Games” in Las Vegas, it’s not just the spate of injuries that’s causing alarm. Earlier mentioned issues with the competition rules include contestants being asked to surrender all personal belongings, including daily medications, to the game’s staff. Many participants have reported difficulties in retrieving these items. A contestant shared with Vital Vegas, “Contestants were told to give producers five days’ worth of medication, yet as of now, not a single dose has been returned. They’ve refused food to diabetics, denied water to contestants, and at least two individuals have experienced seizures due to this.
The contestants who contacted Rosanna Pansino additionally confirmed their accounts. In one message, a competitor expressed to her, “It was truly terrible! People were experiencing seizures due to lack of medication, despite being assured it wouldn’t happen.” Unfortunately, health issues extended beyond that. “Five of us have already tested positive for Covid,” a contestant informed Pansino. “Additionally, someone with pink eye was allowed entry.” As the contestants spent lengthy periods waiting for the crew to bring them drinks, snacks, or their medication, many may have questioned if the opportunity to win $5 million outweighed all the inconvenience.
Some thought the first round of competitions was biased
The concept behind “Beast Games” is that it should be an extraordinary competition where everyone has a fair chance. However, some participants who took part in the Las Vegas event felt that the tasks were designed to favor young, physically fit males. Despite a diverse range of competitors ranging from young adults to octogenarians, this perception persisted. The first task, a massive tug-of-war involving 400 people and weights totaling 10,000 pounds, sparked concerns as many contestants began to form teams, with the more athletic individuals seemingly trying to group together.
As a gamer, I found myself questioning the fairness of the game from the get-go. The organizers’ attitudes didn’t exactly make things easier. To add fuel to the fire, it seemed like some men were able to eliminate women without facing elimination themselves. It got rough; guys started tackling and physically attacking women. Two female contestants even collapsed on the field and were dragged away for filming. I couldn’t help but share my concerns with Rosanna Pansino in a private message.
It appears that the bias continued to influence various production elements, as one woman shared with The New York Times that she and a group of menstruating women were ridiculed by the show’s crew when they persistently sought their undergarments back after being instructed to hand them in. They, along with numerous others, felt that the Las Vegas set was intentionally setting them up for disappointment.
The Toronto crew faced unsafe conditions
In Toronto, during the filming of “Beast Games”, several problems that arose during the Las Vegas show were addressed and rectified. The number of competitors was reduced to half in Toronto compared to Las Vegas, which led to a more streamlined production overall. Competitors reported improved conditions and felt that the perceived bias from earlier games had been addressed through the challenges presented in Toronto.
Regrettably, things took a turn for the worse backstage in Toronto. The crew members described working conditions that resembled some of the most challenging seasons on “Survivor”, not a show backed by Amazon and filmed indoors. They claimed they were often deprived of meals or given minimal food when supplies ran low, yet expected to work long hours of up to 16 hours, despite this.
Several team members expressed grave safety worries, especially during the time when a large downpour inundated certain areas of the location. Filming was halted for a day and a half, yet some personnel alleged that they were instructed to carry on with their tasks near electrical equipment that was perilously close to the water.
The show had payroll issues
In terms of their hiring practices, “Beast Games” showed a questionable side by offering suboptimal work environments and preferentially hiring non-union staff. This unsavory approach was evident when they were assembling their production team. However, it’s possible that those fortunate enough to be part of such a significant project might have overlooked some of the production’s flaws if they had been paid fairly, punctually, and consistently. Regrettably, this wasn’t the experience for several crew members who labored on the show in Toronto.
Four team members from “Beast Games” reported facing significant payment difficulties during their work tenure. One team member stated they went three weeks without receiving a paycheck, while another asserted they hadn’t been paid at all before the project ended. It seems that these issues might not be isolated incidents, as an email was sent to the entire crew announcing the establishment of a hotline to assist with various payroll problems. The payment dilemma could potentially stem from the large and disorganized nature of the production, but given the other questionable circumstances surrounding “Beast Games,” even innocent oversights appear suspicious.
People haven’t been satisfied by MrBeast’s response
With increasing reports about the disorder on “Beast Games,” Mr. Beast’s team has addressed the accusations leveled against them. Not long after the Las Vegas shooting incident, they provided a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, explaining some of the issues that arose. Mr. Beast’s team attributed the widespread disarray to unfavorable weather conditions and a CrowdStrike IT breakdown as primary factors. However, they also made it clear that they have reached out directly to 97% of the 2,000 attendees to gather feedback, initiated a thorough investigation into the process, and taken measures to learn from this experience and improve future events.
In an interview with Oompaville on YouTube, MrBeast addressed some concerns raised about “Beast Games” by contestants and online viewers. He admitted to production mistakes, specifically mentioning inadequate supplies of feminine hygiene products as a learning experience. However, he also stated that many issues have been exaggerated. Furthermore, he maintained that the show employed union workers and assured no one was seriously hurt or fractured any bones during filming.
It’s no shock that not all online users readily accepted MrBeast’s assertions. Some rivals in “Beast Games” also expressed skepticism towards his justifications. Following their involvement in the show, five competitors filed a lawsuit, claiming they endured poor treatment overall, hazardous shooting conditions, and sexual harassment from certain staff members.
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2024-12-13 00:00