American YouTuber MrBeast, whose real name is James Donaldson, is facing criticism in his apparent treatment of staff and participants in his videos. However, a Luxembourger who participated in one of his videos offers a different perspective on the experience.

MrBeast is a global sensation with over 309 million YouTube followers, and is known for his videos where participants take on challenges to win substantial cash prizes.

Starting his YouTube journey at just 12 years old, Donaldson, now 26, is one of the platform's most successful and wealthiest creators, constantly breaking records and reinvesting his earnings into increasingly ambitious projects.

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Sven Charpentier / © Céline Spithoven

Recently, MrBeast has come under fire, with accusations circulating online that he mistreats his staff and participants. A former employee, known as DogPack404 on YouTube, claimed that participants in MrBeast's videos face dangerous and psychologically taxing challenges.

Additionally, a close associate of MrBeast, Ava Kris Tyson, has been accused of inappropriate conduct involving minors, leading MrBeast to distance himself from Tyson in July after an independent investigation.

A Luxembourger's perspective

Luxembourg’s own Sven Charpentier was a participant in one of MrBeast video, having answered a call for candidates last spring.

A long-time fan, Sven seized the opportunity, quickly submitting the required documents and, at long last, received a flight ticket. In June 2023, he flew from Luxembourg to North Carolina via Amsterdam and Chicago, where he was transported to an empty university campus.

"MrBeast rented out the entire university, and we were given rooms with roommates," Sven recalls.

At the time, the 170 participants had no idea what lay ahead. It wasn’t until they were on set that they learned they would be competing in an Olympiad-style competition. The stakes were high: the winner would take home $250,000, with each day featuring a new challenge. Sven made it to the final 14 contestants before being eliminated in a fencing duel. He spent five days in the U.S. before returning to Luxembourg.

Sven finds the current criticism of MrBeast puzzling. He didn’t witness any mistreatment during the Olympiad video shoot. "From start to finish, the candidates were well taken care of," he says, noting that around 20 people from MrBeast’s team were dedicated to looking after the participants.

Safety measures were thorough, with ambulances on standby both on campus and on set, and special effects were used to make the challenges appear more daunting on screen than they actually were.

"We always had someone to talk to, and the overall atmosphere was very positive," Sven adds. During downtime, participants explored the area together, including visiting a well-known fast food chain. "Many of us are still in touch today," Sven says.

MrBeast's generosity: A $7,000 plane ticket

Sven’s trip didn’t cost him a cent. MrBeast’s team covered the flight, accommodation, and food, even purchasing extra clothes for him when he realised he hadn’t packed enough. "When I asked where I could buy some clothes, one of the team members went out and got me everything I needed."

When Sven was eliminated from the competition, MrBeast’s staff helped him book a flight back to Luxembourg. "They told me, 'Find the fastest flight. Business and First-Class only, if there’s no other option,'" Sven recalls. The quickest option cost $7,000, a staggering amount for him. "I said it was too expensive and suggested a cheaper flight with a longer layover, but they insisted and booked the flight anyway."

As the competition narrowed to the final 14 participants, they were given the option to take $10,000 and bow out. Two contestants took the offer, while the others continued competing for the grand prize.

Sven considered taking the money but ultimately decided to keep playing. In the end, the winner walked away with $250,000, while Sven received $2,500 just for participating.

Overall, Sven had a positive experience and would participate again if given the chance. "I signed up for the Beast Games, but I couldn’t participate because I couldn’t take three months off work."

Despite the recent criticism, Sven remains undeterred. While he acknowledges that he can't speak for every situation, he found MrBeast to be hardworking and attentive during his time on set. "We all had to sign a contract and agree not to discuss certain details, but there was nothing dramatic that I couldn’t talk about."