YouTuber MrBeast faces backlash for 'risk dying for $500,000' video
YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is catching heat for his new video, Would You Risk Dying for $500,000?, released September 27, 2025.
In it, a professional stunt performer is tied to a chair inside a smoke-filled room surrounded by fire—part of MrBeast's recurring videos where contestants tackle wild challenges for big cash.
This time, though, viewers and critics expressed concern about the danger and ethics of such extreme stunts.
Donaldson said safety measures were in place
Donaldson pushed back on the backlash, explaining that strict safety measures were in place: ventilation systems, a fire cut-off, on-site paramedics, and a pyro crew ready to control flames.
He also pointed out that the contestant was a trained professional used to dangerous situations.
MrBeast's videos often spark debates about risk and entertainment
MrBeast has built one of YouTube's biggest channels by dreaming up high-stakes, spectacle-driven contests with huge prizes.
His videos rack up millions of views and often get people talking about where entertainment crosses the line into risk.
For better or worse, pushing boundaries has become part of his brand.