Mr. Beast, born James Stephen Donaldson, has responded to allegations of grooming a minor made against his former associate "Ava" Kris Tyson.
Tyson, who adopted a transgender identity last summer, has been accused of developing a sexual and inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old and later meeting with that minor when they were 16, according to allegations made in several videos by YouTuber Prism42 over the past month. Tyson has also joked about selling nude pictures to the minor, according to posts on X, then-Twitter, dating back to 2018.
Although claims against Tyson have circulated over the last month, the allegations came to a head on Monday after DramaAlert shared an X thread documenting the matter.
Two former employees of Mr. Beast also claimed Donaldson was aware of Tyson's behavior, DramaAlert reported.
Tyson has since scrubbed all previous social media posts.
On Wednesday, Tyson announced a "permanent" departure from Donaldson and the Mr. Beast YouTube channel. Tyson later denied allegations of grooming a minor and claimed critics were conflating "edgy jokes" with sexual misconduct.
After nearly three full days without commenting on the matter, Donaldson issued a statement about Tyson and the allegations in a Wednesday night X post.
"Over the last few days, I’ve become aware of the serious allegations of Ava Tyson's behavior online and I am disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts," Mr. Beast wrote. "During that time, I have been focused on hiring an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure I have all the facts."
"That said, I’ve seen enough online and taken immediate action to remove Ava from the company, my channel, and any association with MrBeast," he continued. "I do not condone or support any of the inappropriate actions." Over the last few days, I’ve become aware of the serious allegations of Ava Tyson's behavior online and I am disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts.
During that time, I have been focused on hiring an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure…
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) July 25, 2024
"I will allow the independent investigators the necessary time to conduct a comprehensive investigation and will take any further actions based on their findings," Donaldson concluded.
Donaldson's statement has been met with a mixed response. Some have praised Mr. Beast's handling of the controversy while others have pointed toward his previous support for Tyson as an endorsement of his former employee's behavior.
"Chris Tyson willingly put Mr. Beast’s empire at risk each and every time he was texting minors," wrote Predator Poachers' Alex Rosen. "He knew this too. That is what backstabbers do. Not best friends. And after all of that, Mr. Beast will still affirm Chris’ delusions by pretending that grown ass man is a girl." Chris Tyson willingly put Mr. Beast’s empire at risk each and every time he was texting minors. He knew this too. That is what backstabbers do. Not best friends.
And after all of that, Mr. Beast will still affirm Chris’ delusions by pretending that grown ass man is a girl. 💀 https://t.co/hnI47P9uCS
— Alex Rosen (@iFightForKids) July 25, 2024
Rosen also shared an April 2023 post from Mr. Beast in which Donaldson threw support behind Tyson, who was facing backlash for adopting a transgender identity.
"Yeah, this is getting absurd. Chris isn't my ‘nightmare’ he's my f---en friend and things are fine," Donaldson wrote at the time. "All this transphobia is starting to piss me off." This you? https://t.co/hnI47P9uCS pic.twitter.com/6JgKaKDPtl
— Alex Rosen (@iFightForKids) July 25, 2024
In addition to allegations of grooming a minor, Tyson has also allegedly commissioned sexually suggestive cartoon images of children from controversial artist Shadman.
