MrBeast has finally broken his silence on claims about Ava Kris Tyson’s “unacceptable” online behaviour, as the “disgusted” YouTuber revealed he took “immediate action” to kick her out of the company.
Tyson, 28, who rose to fame as co-host of the popular YouTube channel MrBeast, quit social media on Tuesday and apologized for her behavior after she was accused of sending “inappropriate” messages to a child.
Just a day later, the 28-year-old came under fire for a series of racially insensitive posts on social media, as well as for using the n-word in a recently resurfaced livestream video.
Now, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has commented publicly for the first time since the allegations against Tyson surfaced.
And he says he immediately removed Ava Kris from the show, despite her previously saying they had mutually agreed she should leave.
The YouTube star, who has a net worth of $700 million, said in a post on X: ‘Over the past few days, I have become aware of the serious allegations regarding Ava Tyson’s behavior online and I am disgusted and take a stand against such unacceptable acts.
MrBeast (left) has finally broken his silence on allegations of “unacceptable” online behavior from Ava Kris Tyson (right). Tyson is a childhood friend of MrBeast and was one of four friends hired by the creator.
Tyson, who rose to stardom with the MrBeast channel with 305 million subscribers, is alleged to have begun a relationship with a girl when he was 13.
MrBeast took to social media to say he was “disgusted” by Tyson’s alleged “unacceptable acts.”
During that time, I have focused on hiring an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure I have all the facts.
That being said, I have seen enough content on the internet and have taken immediate action to remove Ava from the company, my channel, and any association with MrBeast. I do not condone or support any of the inappropriate actions.
“I will give independent investigators the time they need to conduct a thorough investigation and will take further action based on their findings.”
Tyson is alleged to have entered into a relationship with a minor when he was 13 and the two are said to have met after the boy won an online competition.
At the time, Tyson was 20 years old and was known to his YouTube fans as ‘Chris’ because he had not yet changed gender.
Tyson, who has a son with his ex-wife, is said to have spent years communicating with the fan on public online forums before they met when the teenager turned 16.
The fan, now an adult, says he is not a victim and has defended Tyson, but has admitted some of the messages were “inappropriate” and “edgy”.
Since the relationship was revealed in a series of exposé-style videos and clips, several of Tyson’s controversial posts have resurfaced.
Several posts show Tyson interacting with ‘Shadman’, an artist known for drawing young characters in sexual poses.
Tyson (above), who appears in numerous videos alongside MrBeast himself, Jimmy Donaldson, has participated in many challenges and prank videos made for the channel. She also became the main host of the Beast Reacts channel (formerly known as BeastHacks).
In a post on X on Tuesday, Tyson wrote: “I would like to apologize for any past behavior or comments that have hurt or offended anyone. It was not my intention.” The fan, now an adult, says he is not a victim and has defended Tyson, but admitted some of the messages were “edgy.”
Tyson told X that he “never harassed anyone” but apologized to “anyone I may have hurt with my unacceptable social media posts.”
In one post, Tyson begged Shadman to “draw a 10-year-old anime girl.” Other posts show Tyson sexualizing cartoon girls.
The 28-year-old, who has appeared in MrBeast’s YouTube videos since he first launched his channel in 2012, told X on Tuesday: “I would like to apologize for any past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone. It was not my intention.
‘In light of recent events, we mutually decided that it is best for me to permanently step away from everything related to MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and my mental health.
“I wanted to add that I never groomed anyone,” she continued on the social media platform, noting that the person named in the allegations “has vocally supported that they are false.”
With that being said, I humbly apologize 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.
Regarding Tyson’s racist accusations, in one post the 28-year-old appears to joke about police brutality and in another, the YouTuber calls Islam a “backward religion that hates everything different.”
Critics of Tyson’s racial comments have been making their voices heard since at least last year, including TikTok user @ibaad.khuram0who posted a pair of Islamophobic tweets from Tyson dating back to May 2017.
Reacting to the Manchester Arena bombing that month, carried out by a suicide bomber with alleged links to the Islamic State (ISIS) and an Algerian wing of al-Qaeda, Tyson tweeted: “Why the hell do we take Islam seriously?”
“It’s an old, backward religion that hates everything different and treats women like shit. Why the hell do people still accept it?” Tyson asked.
In a 2016 Twitter spat, Tyson appears to publicly argue with a black user on the platform over how to properly cook a steak: “Look at all the black people who have never had a steak that costs more than $10,” Tyson wrote (above).
Critics of Tyson’s racist comments have been vocal since at least last year, including TikTok user @ibaad.khuram0. In reaction to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in May 2017, Tyson tweeted: “Why the hell do we take Islam seriously?” (above)
In another instance, the young YouTube personality posted a provocative meme that could be interpreted as a criticism or endorsement of racist police brutality against black people. “When you have to shoot basketball at 3:00 and black kids at 4:30,” the meme image reads.
Above, Tyson is seen wearing a Beast-branded sweatshirt.
Dozens of TikTok users flocked to the post, with comments demanding an apology and others saying: “This is why you shouldn’t have a famous role model.”
Even earlier, in a 2016 Twitter spat, Tyson appears to publicly argue with a black user on the platform over how to properly cook a steak: “Look at all the black people who have never had a steak that costs more than $10,” Tyson wrote.
And in another instance, the young YouTube personality posted an incendiary meme from the Instagram account @defectsofcharacter that could be interpreted as a criticism or endorsement of racist police brutality against black people.
“When you have to shoot at 3:00 and black kids have to shoot at 4:30,” reads the meme image, accompanied by a white police officer holding a basketball.
The tweets have resurfaced alongside more vivid accusations of using a racial slur, clearly audible in a clip apparently from one of MrBeast’s 10-hour livestreams.
The date of the video is unknown, but it was taken when Tyson was 20 years old.
Tyson can be heard using the word ny justifying the racist slur by saying “but I’m not relevant.”
In the grainy, short video, Tyson appears to be talking to MrBeast, who appears to be joking around with him remotely on camera.
“You know I’m watching this for 10 hours straight on a live stream,” MrBeast warns Tyson in the video clip, after the racial slur is uttered.
Donaldson’s channel is the most followed on YouTube and is known for his extravagant actions and philanthropic initiatives.
The 26-year-old became the most followed person on YouTube. in 2022 and with 240 million subscribers and counting by early 2024, it is only closely trailing Indian record label and production company T-Series in the race for the top spot overall.
High-value gifts the star has received over the years include a $2.5 million private jet and a $2 million private island, plus millions more in cash prizes.