Summary
- Ava Kris Tyson has stepped away from MrBeast's channel amid allegations, but the accusations seem questionable given the context.
- The controversy surrounding Cody Ko and Tana Mongeau mirrors the situation with Ava, driving commentary channels to create lucrative viral content irrespective of accuracy.
- Attacks against Ava were met with support from MrBeast in June, and a lack of response from him after her departure in July.
YouTube superstar MrBeast's close friend and frequent collaborator Ava Kris Tyson has stepped away from his channel, amid allegations she interacted inappropriately with a young fan of the channel.
MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson) has maintained the title of "YouTuber with the most subscribers" for some time now, and as such, both he and his channel are extremely visible.
Right before the current and ongoing controversy involving MrBeast collaborator Ava Kris Tyson cropped up, a very similar uproar surrounded YouTuber Cody Ko.
Cody has been accused of sleeping with fellow YouTuber Tana Mongeau when he was 25, and she was 17, and he has yet to acknowledge the allegations.
As is often the case, a slew of popular YouTube videos ensued, rehashing and discussing the Cody Ko situation — and it bears mentioning that many of these videos went viral, creating a strong incentive among creators to find additional scandals involving massive YouTubers.
And no one is bigger on YouTube right now than MrBeast.
Cody Ko's Follower Count Craters As Kelsey Turns Off Instagram Comments
Additional allegations about Cody Ko have surfaced, his subscriber count is plummeting, and wife Kelsey has turned off IG comments.
The Controversy Involving MrBeast And Ava Kris Tyson, Explained
Ava Kris Tyson is a YouTuber, an occasional MrBeast co-host, a transgender woman, and Jimmy's former roommate.
Tyson came out as transgender in 2023, and changed her name to "Ava" in 2024.
In late June, Rolling Stone reported that MrBeast – who the outlet says is "rarely outspoken" about his views – stepped in to defend Ava amid a flood of online vitriol.
According to Rolling Stone, Ava had been viciously attacked by an account well-known for unapologetically stoking real-world violence against the LGBTQ community, @LibsOfTikTok.
Off the bat, the "allegations" against Ava were suspect in that small bit of context.
As mentioned above, allegations about Cody Ko and a then-underage Tana Mongeau began circulating in late May, but in late June and early July, they became a goldmine for "commentary" YouTube channels.
Again, it's unwise to decouple the Cody Ko situation and the harassment by @LibsOfTikTok from the current allegations against Ava Kris Tyson, as both clearly contributed to the current focus on Ava.
On June 13, a small channel uploaded a video, one that seems to be the genesis of the controversy involving Ava and MrBeast. However, the video's title deadnamed Ava, and we won't link to it.
Additional claims based on Discord screenshots circulated on social media, but we were unable to verify their authenticity or origin.
Allegations leveled in a transphobic fashion ought to be taken with a grain of salt, but in a climate where allegation-based videos are popular (and lucrative), few seemed to exercise caution in evaluating the claims.
Per the BBC, Ava Kris Tyson, who is now 28, was accused of messaging a 13-year-old when she was 20:
"Ava responded by saying: 'To create a narrative that my behaviour extended beyond bad edgy jokes is disgusting and did not happen.'"
Sky News reported that the then 13-year-old had not only been identified, but had spoken out to defend Ava — a detail that seemed to be important, and one that had fallen to the wayside:
"The alleged victim, who was named online, said videos claiming Tyson groomed him 'are massive lies and twisting the truth.'
"'Ava never did anything wrong, and just made a few edgy jokes. I was never exploited or taken advantage of,' he added.
"'This situation takes away from children who are actively being exploited everyday online. I am not a victim of anything being claimed in these videos or at all.'"
The individual in question made repeated statements on Twitter, and specifically requested two of the most prominent videos about the messages be taken down, adding: " ... people are creating lies around my name."
In a separate tweet, the same user said:
Can you do me a favor and comment on these videos and tell them to stop spreading lies.
On July 23, Ava issued a statement via Twitter formally quitting MrBeast's channel — with horrifyingly hateful comments visible underneath:
"I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone. It was not my intent.
"Seeing recent events we’ve mutually decided it’s best I permanently step away from all things MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and mental health."
MrBeast hasn't addressed Ava Kris Tyson's decision to step away from the channel, but the "allegations" against Tyson appeared to be a combination of clout-seeking and transphobic rhetoric.
- Birthname
- Jimmy Donaldson
- Birthdate
- May 7, 1998
- Birthplace
- Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
- @mrbeast
- Profession
- YouTuber
- Net worth
- $100,000,000
