Famous YouTuber MrBeast has recently been embroiled in a series of controversies, leading to massive decline in his subscriber count.
The trouble began when old videos surfaced in which he used inappropriate language, followed by allegations that one of his employees had sent inappropriate messages to minors. However, the most significant backlash came after it was revealed that MrBeast had hired Matthew Hiltzik, a crisis management expert notorious for his work with Harvey Weinstein.
MrBeast, whose real name is James Stephen “Jimmy” Donaldson, is known for his high-production videos and philanthropic endeavors. He owns the most subscribed channel on YouTube.
The controversy escalated when fellow YouTuber Rosanna Pansino accused MrBeast of fabricating challenge videos, intensifying the public debate around him. Pansino’s allegations, which were discussed on the H3H3 podcast, claimed that participants were treated unfairly and that MrBeast’s recordings were manipulated. She also revealed that MrBeast had allegedly enlisted Hiltzik’s crisis management firm, a move she saw as a calculated effort to protect his public image rather than addressing the underlying issues.
Hiltzik, who started his PR career at Weinstein’s Miramax, now represents high-profile clients in the entertainment and political spheres. Pansino criticized the decision to hire him, viewing it as an attempt to control the narrative rather than resolve the controversies.
As a result of these issues, MrBeast’s channel, which once boasted 300 million subscribers, has seen a drop in viewers, subscribers, and revenue. According to ViewStats, his primary channel experienced 153 million fewer views this month compared to the previous one. Moreover, his channel gained 12 million fewer subscribers than in the previous 28-day period, leading to an estimated loss of nearly $700,000 in revenue.
