Rosalind Evans
Prominent YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson is filing a lawsuit against the organization managing his fast-food franchise, alleging customers labelled the food ‘unpalatable.’
Donaldson, the globe’s top YouTuber boasting 172 million subscribers, unveiled MrBeast Burger in 2020.
He alleges that Virtual Dining Concepts, the entity managing the burger chain, is tarnishing his brand and reputation by distributing inferior products.
He is seeking legal permission to dissolve the agreement.
Donaldson has gained popularity for his philanthropic deeds and videos featuring massive prizes and monetary rewards.
The lawsuit, lodged in New York on Monday, charges Virtual Dining Concepts with failing to maintain the burger quality, asserting at times they were “unfit for consumption”.
“As a consequence, MrBeast Burger is perceived as a deceitful, poor representation of the MrBeast brand,” the legal complaint argues, further noting that it “has inflicted significant, irreparable damage to the MrBeast brand and MrBeast’s standing.”
It also purports that Donaldson “has not received any financial returns” from the collaboration.
The BBC has reached out to Virtual Dining Concepts for a response.
Donaldson has formally apologized on Twitter to fans disillusioned by their meals, expressing that he cannot terminate his deal with the company.
MrBeast Burger operates deliveries from over 1,000 ‘ghost kitchens’ globally.
Often referred to as dark kitchens or virtual restaurants, these are food delivery platforms functioning out of the kitchens of other businesses.
In 2022, London-based fans could order a MrBeast Burger delivered from Shoreditch, prepared in the kitchen of another burger establishment, Dirty Bones.
In September 2022, the brand caught nationwide attention when Donaldson orchestrated a grand opening of his first physical burger restaurant in a US shopping mall, attracting thousands of fans.
Enthusiasts lined up for hours for a burger and an opportunity to meet Donaldson in New Jersey.
Donaldson’s YouTube channel is the second-largest globally and has the highest subscriber count among individual creators on the platform.
The only channel surpassing his is owned by Indian record label T-Series, hosting thousands of Hindi-language music videos.
In 2021, he launched an additional philanthropy-focused YouTube channel, which has garnered over 10 million subscribers, and operates a licensed charity functioning as a food bank, serving communities across the US.
As MrBeast’s case unfolds, many are keenly watching how this issue will impact the popular YouTuber’s brand and the future of the MrBeast Burger franchise. Despite the controversy, Donaldson’s expansive reach, philanthropic work, and the immense popularity of his channel illustrate his resilience and the loyalty of his followers. Regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, MrBeast’s enduring influence in the digital world is undeniable.
