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Staying tight-lipped
Donaldson has been quieter than usual in the last few weeks. His reputation took a hit in July when his long-term friend and colleague, Ava Tyson, was accused of messaging a child fan inappropriately.
Donaldson cut professional ties with Tyson and said he was “disgusted and opposed” to her behavior and that he had hired a third-party investigator. Tyson apologized for her “past behavior or comments” but did not specify what those were.
Since then, Donaldson has hired a top law firm to investigate his workplace but has been selective about what he’s said publicly.
Donaldson has, however, launched a new product with KSI and Paul called Lunchly, which is a competitor to Kraft Heinz’s Lunchables.
Walters said Donaldson is staying tight-lipped about the show’s controversies, both because of “legal sensitivities” and to avoid drawing any more negative attention.
“As the case is open and ongoing, he may be unable to comment in detail,” he said.
However, Chedid told BI these “stonewall tactics” may “come back to bite him,” affecting his reputation and future partnerships.
“He is simply hiding behind his products,” Chedid said, adding that there is only so long Donaldson can count on being bankable if he’s seen as a risky investment.
D’Angelo told BI Donaldson might decide to speak up if the controversy starts to affect his “bread and butter” — his YouTube channel.
“I’m certain that is something that’s on MrBeast’s mind all the time,” she said.
Donaldson’s channel is still growing, and there’s no sign that anyone is likely to overtake him as the biggest YouTuber in the world anytime soon. But he may find his fans eventually want him to be honest with them.
“The budget for ‘Beast Games’ may be huge and the audience appetite stronger than ever,” Chedid said. “But those same fans will soon grow too, and with them, their appetite for transparency and ethics.”