MrBeast, the world’s highest paid YouTuber, accused of bullying by the delivery firm he’s suing over ‘inedible’ burgers.
MrBeast, the world's highest paid YouTuber, accused of bullying by the delivery firm he's suing over 'inedible' burgers.
MrBeast: From YouTube Star to Food Entrepreneur
With 173 million subscribers to his flagship MrBeast channel, Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has established himself as the most followed creator on YouTube. But his success goes beyond creating entertaining videos. Donaldson has also ventured into philanthropy and entrepreneurship in the food industry.
In 2020, the social media megastar launched MrBeast Burger, a delivery-only ghost restaurant concept. Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC) became his partner in rolling out the brand across the United States and expanding to additional markets in Europe and Asia, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden.
Donaldson’s foray into the food sector has been immensely successful. In July 2021, he announced on Twitter that MrBeast Burger had already generated $100 million in revenue from the U.S. business alone. Moreover, when the burger brand unveiled its first brick-and-mortar location in New Jersey, it made headlines as a reported crowd of 10,000 fans showed up for the opening, apparently breaking a world record. It became clear that Donaldson’s burger empire had tremendous potential, with rumors swirling about a possible $1.5 billion valuation.
However, despite the financial triumphs, Donaldson has recently taken legal action against VDC, accusing the Florida-based company of providing poor-quality food and seeking permission from a judge to terminate their partnership. VDC, on the other hand, has strongly contested these claims, labeling Donaldson’s lawsuit as “meritless” and “riddled with false statements.” The company vowed to discredit his accusations in court.
According to VDC, Donaldson has prioritized greed over his word and the truth, with the company claiming to have been bullied by the YouTube star. VDC stated that Donaldson’s ill-advised and meritless lawsuit is an attempt to undermine the MrBeast Burger brand and terminate contractual obligations without cause. It further revealed that the dispute stemmed from Donaldson’s demand for a larger share of the company.
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Donaldson’s lawsuit alleges that VDC compromised on quality as it pursued rapid expansion. Within a short span of three months, the partners had sold one million MrBeast Burgers, and by 2022, 1,700 restaurants had joined the ghost kitchen chain. However, customers soon began posting negative reviews, labelling the sandwiches as “disgusting,” “revolting,” and “inedible.”
According to Donaldson’s lawsuit, he had raised concerns about quality control with VDC, but his complaints “fell on deaf ears.” The lack of response from the company disappointed him considering his own commitment to delivering valuable and entertaining content to his dedicated fanbase.
Both Donaldson and VDC have remained tight-lipped regarding the ongoing legal battle, declining to respond to media requests for comment. It remains to be seen how the court will adjudicate on the matter.
It’s worth noting that VDC is also partnered with brands associated with other prominent names, including pop star Mariah Carey and NASCAR. Despite the current disputes, it is clear that Donaldson’s entrepreneurial spirit and ability to captivate audiences extend beyond the digital realm, potentially shaping the future of the food industry.
