MrBeast announces results of internal investigation

On Friday, Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, tweeted the results of a three-month investigation into allegations about his company’s “work environment and culture,” as well as specific allegations against current and former employees.

According to an email provided by Donaldson, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP found that allegations of sexual harassment “between company employees and minors” as well as “allegations that the company knowingly hires individuals with a propensity or history of illegal or questionable legal conduct ” are “without basis”. The letter is signed by Alex Spiro, who is also the lead attorney in the current federal corruption case brought by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In a statement, the law firm said it had “nothing to add at this time.”

The investigation’s conclusion comes after a difficult summer for Donaldson, who runs YouTube’s biggest channel. On July 24, Donaldson tweeted that he and his company had parted ways with Ava Chris Tyson, who had been his deputy since the channel launched in 2012, due to allegations that she had inappropriate conversations with minors, including her Discord moderator LavaGS . Days later, Tyson’s former executive assistant, Jess, tweeted, now deleted, that she had been “sexually assaulted” by a creator who used her status at the company to coerce her into sexual favors. Jess also stated that after she no longer wanted to engage in a sexual relationship with the MrBeast star, Tyson ended their professional relationship. In a July 23 post on X, Tyson denied any allegations of grooming or sexual misconduct, adding: “I humbly apologize to anyone I have offended with my inappropriate social media posts, past actions, and to those who may feel betrayed by “for the way I behaved before.” act online.” (Tyson had no comment Rolling Stone She also did not respond to requests for comment on the investigation’s findings at the time.)

This is Donaldson’s first public comment about Tyson since the initial allegations and only the third tweet he has posted since July. They identified “several isolated incidents of harassment and misconduct in the workplace” but took “swift and inappropriate action” to address those incidents, according to the email he shared. They did not specify what the specific incidents were or who was punished.

There are also a number of recommended changes that MrBeast has “already implemented or is in the process of implementing,” including “mandatory corporate training for all employees,” “developing new policies codified in the employee handbook,” and “promptly terminating individuals who violate company policies.” . The company has already hired a new CEO – venture capitalist Jeffrey Housenbold, who took over in June – and will hire a chief operating officer, chief financial officer and general counsel. In early August, an internal email leaked to the X DramaAlert account announced many of these internal changes, including the hiring of a new general counsel and chief financial officer, “mandatory training,” “listening sessions,” and an “anonymous review.” (A representative for MrBeast declined to comment.)

The email also mentions a cease and desist order that the law firm sent to YouTuber and former MrBeast employee Dawson French, who, under the name “DogPack404”, posted several videos alleging workplace inappropriate behavior at MrBeast (although some criticized him for he shared information that was not fully verified). “If MrBeast wanted the truth to come out, why would they threaten the whistleblower with legal action,” French said in a statement to Rolling Stone. While he says he was not interviewed as part of that investigation, he notes that “they took action against the people I reported.”

Those whose stories were investigated have mixed feelings about Donaldson’s tweet. LavaGS, who was 13 years old when he first started talking to the then 20-year-old Tyson, responded by tweeting that “private investigators have reviewed all of my private messages and interactions with” Tyson. “I was not prepared, these were false accusations made by other people using my name.” The moderator made it clear that he had not been groomed since his story came to light, tweeting on July 23, “I’m not a victim” and “Nothing bad happened between me and Tyson.” When contacted for comment, LavaGS instructed: Rolling Stone to his statement.

But Jess says the post left her “sad”. Although none of the allegations were mentioned by name, her story was the catalyst that launched the misconduct investigation. She contacted MrBeast’s HR department on July 10th. Although she was questioned as part of the investigation, she says their last correspondence took place on August 14. “They stopped answering me,” Jess says. “This public statement is the only update I have on this situation at all.”

Correction, Nov. 2, 9:30 a.m. ET: Earlier in this article, it was stated that the new CEO would replace Jeffrey Housenbold.. Housenbold will continue to serve as CEO.