After announcing a "permanent" departure from Mr. Beast, Ava Kris Tyson has denied allegations of grooming a minor.
Tyson, born Kris, has been involved with Mr. Beast, born James Stephen Donaldson, since the early years of Donaldson's YouTube career. Mr. Beast currently boasts over 305 million subscribers with over 55 billion total views.
In July 2023, Tyson adopted the name "Ava" and came out as transgender after undergoing six months of hormone therapy.
Allegations of Tyson's grooming of a minor surfaced this past month by YouTuber Prism42, though came to a head on Monday after DramaAlert shared an X thread documenting allegations levied against Tyson. The Mr. Beast star allegedly developed a sexually inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old minor, later meeting with that minor when they were 16, according to claims made in Prism42's videos.
DramaAlert owner and fellow YouTuber Keemstar, born Daniel Keem, said Donaldson had connected him with the alleged minor, who uses the handle "Lava" online.
Lava claimed he was not groomed by Tyson, adding he met with Tyson while accompanied by his family and fellow Mr. Beast crew.
On Tuesday afternoon, Tyson announced his "permanent" departure from Mr. Beast.
"I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone. It was not my intent," Tyson wrote. "Seeing recent events we’ve mutually decided it’s best I permanently step away from all things MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and mental health."
Several hours after announcing a mutual departure from Mr. Beast, Tyson denied claims of grooming in an X thread.
"I want to add, I never groomed anyone," Tyson wrote. "The person who gets brought up in these accusations, Lava, has vocally supported that they are false." I want to add, I never groomed anyone. The person who gets brought up in these accusations @LavaGS has vocally supported that they are false.
— Ava Kris Tyson (@kristyson_) July 23, 2024
"Having said that, I humbly apologise to anyone I have hurt with my unacceptable social media posts, past actions, and to those who may feel betrayed by how I used to act online," the former Mr. Beast star continued in another post.
However, Tyson then claimed critics were conflating "edgy jokes" with sexual behavior.
"To lump these two factors together to create a narrative that my behavior extended beyond bad edgy jokes is disgusting and did not happen," Tyson continued. "In past years, I have learned that my old humor is not acceptable. I cannot change who I was, but I can continue to work on myself." To lump these two factors together to create a narrative that my behavior extended beyond bad edgy jokes is disgusting and did not happen.
In past years, I have learned that my old humor is not acceptable. I cannot change who I was, but I can continue to work on myself
— Ava Kris Tyson (@kristyson_) July 23, 2024
Tyson concluded his thread by noting the split from Mr. Beast was made in the best interest of Donaldson's other employees who could have been impacted by allegations made against Tyson.
Keemstar also alleged Tyson had expressed support and commissioned work from controversial artist Shadman, whose work depicts sexually suggestive cartoons of children. Shadman previously drew a sexually suggestive cartoon of Keemstar's then-eight-year-old daughter, the YouTuber said.
The YouTuber responded to Tyson's defense of his behavior in a response to Tyson's thread.
"Labeling your past behavior as ‘edgy jokes’ is it direct challenge to the Entire Internet to prove otherwise. And we accept the Challenge!" Keemstar wrote. Kris Tyson, labeling your past behavior as “edgy jokes” is it direct challenge to the Entire Internet to prove otherwise.
And we accept the Challenge!
— KEEM 🍿 (@KEEMSTAR) July 23, 2024
Other former employees of Mr. Beast have claimed Donaldson was aware of Tyson's behavior behind the scenes.
Donaldson has not issued a statement on the matter as of Wednesday morning.
