In brief
YouTube sensation MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, is facing a lawsuit filed by Lorrayne Mavromatis, a former executive, who alleges sexual harassment and gender discrimination at his company, Beast Industries. Mavromatis claims the company did not take complaints seriously and created a hostile work environment for female employees. MrBeast's representatives have denied the claims, labeling them as false and opportunistic. This controversy adds to the scrutiny surrounding the YouTube star, who has previously faced allegations of exploiting participants on his reality show.
MrBeast's media company has been sued by a former employee over claims of sexual harassment and workplace gender bias.The 27-year-old, real name Jimmy Donaldson, is the world's most-followed YouTuber and employs more than 500 people.Lorrayne Mavromatis, a former executive who worked for his company Beast Industries between 2022 and 2025, alleged harassment of women employees was condoned and complaints were not taken seriously at the business.A representative for Beast Industries described the allegations as categorically false in a response to BBC Newsbeat.Mavromatis first joined the company as its head of Instagram before being promoted.In court documents she claims she was sacked from her role after complaining about a workplace that suffered from a lack of basic employment protections.In the lawsuit she alleges sexual harassment of other female employees was both condoned and/or perpetuated by their supervisors, adding she was also treated differently than her male counterpart.Mavromatis says she was told her claims were unsubstantiated when she complained about the hostile environment she and other women were experiencing.In one example, Mavromatis claims former Beast Industries CEO James Warren told her she was a beautiful woman and her appearance had a certain sexual effect on Jimmy.She further alleges being promptly demoted and transferred to an obscure role known by [company] employees as the division where 'careers go to die'.According to the complaint, Mavromantis was fired less than three weeks after she returned from pregnancy-related leave and told she was too high-calibre for the role.Mavromatis has suffered mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment and damage to her emotional and psychological well-being due to MrBeast's conduct and the adverse employment actions. She is seeking lost wages, lost benefits, reinstatement and various forms of damages.A representative for the company described the claims as a clout-chasing complaint which is built on deliberate misrepresentations and categorically false statements.We have the receipts to prove it, they told Newsbeat, stating the company has extensive evidence that unequivocally refutes Mavromantis' claims.Donaldson, who boasts more than 470 million subscribers, has faced legal proceedings before, including allegations about exploitation on his show Beast Games, which he contested as being blown out of proportion.
