Will the MrBeast Brand Survive?

CREATOR NEWSLETTER

Issue #259 | July 30, 2024

Presented by:

Since MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, skyrocketed to fame at 19 years old, he has survived numerous controversies. In fact, sparking viral internet discourse has become somewhat integral to the now-26-year-old’s brand — with his clickbaity thumbnails and titles for extravagant “charity” videos frequently teetering the line between altruistic and exploitative.

There’s no question MrBeast knows how to strike up a conversation online. See: suing his business partner, fanboying over Elon Musk, asking fans to clean up his chocolate bar displays, or buying a dystopian neighborhood compound for his employees to live in.

But, at least for me, it’s been a bit surprising to see Donaldson’s family-friendly, wide-grinning persona emerge from all these controversies with his reputation seemingly unscathed.

Back in 2021, 11 of MrBeast’s former employees spoke to the New York Times about what it was like to work for the millionaire. In short, many alleged a difficult workplace “rife with favoritism and bullying.” The YouTuber was also criticized years prior for his use of slurs and offensive jokes at the beginning of his career. But that did little to stop Donaldson’s upward mobility. Just a few short years later, he became the most-subscribed YouTube channel of all time.

All of this begs the question, can the MrBeast brand survive anything? Well, with a couple of high-profile, disconcerting controversies in the past week — related to workplace injuries and inappropriate comments from MrBeast and his collaborators — it seems that the internet’s perception of the Beast might finally be taking a turn for the worse. 

– Grace Stanley, Deputy Editor

PERSONALITIES

Can MrBeast Be Canceled?

A wave of controversies could shake MrBeast’s whole empire.

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson

→ READ THE FULL STORY

Ready to expand your reach—and earnings? Turn your knowledge into an online course today.

Teachable creators average six figures in lifetime earnings, thanks to the platform’s easy, customizable digital products. From courses and coaching to memberships and community, start generating income you can count on today.

Explore Teachable

IN THE BIZ

LABOR

SAG-AFTRA Launches Strike Against Video Game Companies

‘Enough is enough.’ 

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

CULTURE

Paris 2024: The Influencer Olympics

This Olympics is going vertical. 

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

JOB BOARD

YOUTUBE MADE ME DO IT

This week on the Reactorverse podcast, we welcome YaBoyRoshi! Roshi breaks down his journey into content creation by learning from others along the way.

Be sure to subscribe to the Passionfruit YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode! If you’d prefer to listen in audio form, we also have a podcast feed. And if you want to catch the episodes early, join us on Patreon!

Copyright © 2024 Passionfruit, All rights reserved.

You are receiving this email because you signed up to get the latest tips, tricks,
and trends in the creator economy from Passionfruit.

Have an idea for our next big story or want to get featured? Email us at tips@passionfru.it

Don’t want to hear from us anymore?
Click here to unsubscribe 

To view in your browser click here 

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • Tim Walz Takes on Twitch

    Tim Walz Takes on Twitch

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #285 | Oct. 29, 2024 Donning a camouflage Vikings hat, vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has decided to take a page out of creators’ playbooks. Joined this past Sunday on Twitch by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known for her record-breaking streams in the past, Walz played as the Vikings on “Madden NFL…

    By

    Grace Stanley

  • In Defense of Meme Halloween Costumes

    In Defense of Meme Halloween Costumes

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #284 | Oct. 24, 2024 – Taylor Lorenz, Passionfruit Contributor PLATFORMS YouTube vs. GunTube Why a crackdown on firearms videos is more complex than it may seem. By Lon Harris, Passionfruit Contributor → READ THE FULL STORY SPONSORED The 29th Annual Webby Awards are open! Join past winners like MrBeast, Recess Therapy, Abi Marquez, and Mark Rober, and be recognized alongside culture-shaping brands and companies like Netflix, Gucci,…

    By

    Taylor Lorenz

  • Twitch Criticized for Its Approach to Israel and Palestine Content

    Twitch Criticized for Its Approach to Israel and Palestine Content

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #283 | Oct. 22, 2024 On Sunday, Twitch released an apology statement acknowledging that it had “inadvertently” blocked user sign-ups from Palestine and Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. In the story below, Passionfruit’s Charlotte Colombo explains why this “unacceptable miss” happened and how creators spotted the error. Though people from both Palestine and Israel were…

    By

    Grace Stanley