MrBeast Is Examining Company Culture, Sensitivity Training Will Be Implemented
The embattled MrBeast’s company is investigating the internal culture in his YouTube empire, as well as “allegations of inappropriate behavior by people in the company,” according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press.
The memo reveals MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) has hired law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan to investigate former co-host Ava Tyson, who departed company in July after allegations surfaced of inappropriate sexual messages with minors.
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The memo, addressed to “Team Beast” employees, outlines plans to hire a chief human resources officer and require company-wide sensitivity training.
The probe comes as turmoil has rattled the company. A New York Times story accused the company of abusing contestants in its Beast Games Amazon realty show, while Donaldson has been under fire for slurs uttered in videos made in his younger years. That’s in addition to the Tyson matter.
“As your leader, I take responsibility, and I am committed to continue to improve and evolve my leadership style,” Donaldson wrote in the memo. “I recognize that I also need to create a culture that makes all our employees feel safe and allows them to do their best work.”
A spokesperson for MrBeast confirmed that the memo was sent to employees.
The memo also detailed plans to hire a CFO and general counsel. The company will offer an “anonymous reporting mechanism,” as well as mandatory training for all employees, on “safety, sexual harassment, LGBTQ, diversity, sensitivity training, and workplace conduct,” according to the memo.
Donaldson has recently moved to expand his influence far beyond his main YouTube channel’s record 309 million subscribers.
Other YouTube channels “Beast Reacts” and “Beast Philanthropy” total more than 34 million and 25 million subscribers, respectively.
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