Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, the world’s most popular YouTuber and philanthropist, is facing fresh controversy after allegations surfaced that his YouTube video thumbnails may have intentionally reduced the presence of Black individuals to increase viewer engagement.
The controversy ignited when a user on X (formerly Twitter), @morchel, reposted a video titled “Thumbnail Progression of @MrBeast’s Recent Video.” The video highlighted changes in thumbnails on MrBeast’s channel, prompting @morchel to question whether the reduction of Black individuals was a tactic to appeal to YouTube’s algorithm. “Does anyone else find it weird that MrBeast reduces the number of Black people in his thumbnails to optimise engagement?” @morchel asked, sparking heated debate online.
Debate over racial bias and AI manipulation in YouTube thumbnails
The post quickly divided opinions. While some dismissed the allegations as insignificant, others raised concerns about the possible racial bias in YouTube’s content strategies. @morchel later clarified their statement, emphasising that they were not accusing MrBeast of racism but found it troubling that factors like race, gender, and age might be manipulated in thumbnails to boost views.
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They also speculated that AI tools, such as Photoshop’s generative fill, could be responsible for these modifications.
The backlash comes at a difficult time for Donaldson. In July, his former collaborator Ava Kris Tyson faced allegations of inappropriate conversations with minors, as well as sexual misconduct accusations—claims Tyson has strongly denied.
Further complicating matters, several contestants from Donaldson’s popular series ‘Beast Games’ accused the production of unsafe working conditions, and a lawsuit was filed by five female contestants alleging a culture of misogyny and sexism within his production company.
Adding to the scrutiny, MrBeast faced renewed criticism when older videos surfaced containing racially insensitive jokes. While the YouTuber has not directly responded to the thumbnail controversy, the allegations have amplified ongoing debates about representation and bias in the content creation industry.
