Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson continues to be in the news for all the wrong reasons, and yet again, it's his controversial Beast Games that's causing a stir. This not-so-subtle homage to Netflix's Squid Game saw 1,000 contestants compete for a life-changing sum. While they thankfully weren't killed off like in the fictional show, it doesn't sound like Beast Games was a walk in the park.
Even before the series aired, there was controversy involving allegations of sexual harassment and the mistreatment of contestants, while leaked documents showed the pretty brutal terms participants had to agree to.
Now, one employee claims he was nearly crushed to death while working on Beast Games, calling out a near-fatal accident that he claims could've been easily avoided.
Speaking to Business Insider, 'Sam' is said to be a freelancer who was working on the set of Beast Games. He apparently walked under a tower that was being dismantled by other members of the crew, when a piece fell off and cut his shoulder open.
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The incident occurred during the dismantling of the $14 million Beast City that was constructed specifically for the show.
Sam says he was partially crushed and had to spend eight days in the hospital. His injuries included several broken bones, his shoulder needing to be reconstructed, and his spleen being removed.
With him coughing up blood, one witness recalled Sam saying: "I don't want to die."
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Sam says that he's had months of physical therapy to regain the use of his arm, and he's unable to return to work until at least spring this year.
One of the show's producers reportedly visited him in the hospital and gave him an envelope filled with $1,000 worth of DoorDash and Uber gift cards. Someone close to production said that Sam had repeatedly asked for these gift cards, although he doesn't recall the conversation. As for the accident, he maintains: "Accidents on sets happen, but this one seemed preventable...If it was really well organized or well communicated, this wouldn't happen in the first place."
Sam says a lack of safety regulations led to his injury, and as well as wanting Donaldson to publicly acknowledge what happened, Sam is now seeking monetary compensation from those behind Beast Games.
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In a separate lawsuit targeting the shooting of a Las Vegas promo, five contestants have filed paperwork against Donaldson and the production companies, referring to "dangerous circumstances and conditions." The case status is pending, with a hearing scheduled for March 2025.
Sam reportedly contacted lawyers in September 2024 but was told he couldn't sue due to taking payment from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board that provides insurance benefits to injured workers.
As for Donaldson taking accountability, Sam says it would mean a lot. Even though he accepted that MrBeast isn't the "company or people that rigged the wall," the fact that he's the "face and the captain of the team" should have some bearing on the situation.
Donaldson has already said he lost a lot of money on Beast Games, and if any of these cases are successful, he could be about to lose a lot more.