Throughout the years, MrBeast’s content has been criticized by viewers all over the world. Though some have found his videos to be an interesting part of the cultural zeitgeist and others have found them to be purely entertaining, many have found MrBeast’s content to be difficult to watch. Scrutinized for the way he’s treated fellow content creators and the authenticity of the competitions he’s run online, MrBeast has managed to rise above the haters with his content, though the criticism still exists all over the internet.Even with his content being questioned, his popularity has continued to grow.
While many were skeptical ofBeast Gamesseason 1when it was first announced, the series was greenlit by Amazon Studios and moved into production. The logline of the show surrounded the competitive nature of the series.Beast Games,which ultimately is very reminiscent of Netflix’s hit dramaSquid Gameand reality TV competition counterpartSquid Game: The Challenge,has been an intense watch for those who are familiar with MrBeast and casual enthusiasts. Withseveral different high-stakes challenges per episode, the show spared no expense in prizes and made it clear that money was no object in creating competition.
Though the show mainly focused on competitions to bring the pool of competitors down further and further each episode, there have also been some moments within the season where the competitors are asked to make decisions that could benefit themselves over others. With many moments where morality came into question,Beast Gamestried to position itself as a space for moral quandaries on top of competitive spirit. With some moments that even surprised MrBeast himself on the show, there’s been an array of shocking moments onBeast Gamesthat deserve to be recognized.
10MrBeast’s Pre-Game Bribe To Quit Early
He Tried To Convince Players To Leave The Game Before It Began
During the openingepisode ofBeast Gamesseason 1,MrBeast welcomed 1000 players to the competition and gave them a quick ultimatum. Trying to convince some players to drop out before the competition even began, the YouTuber offered a cash prize to those willing to quit. The majority of players weren’t interested in the bribe, but MrBeast quickly sweetened the pot. As the money grew, the bribe took on new life as players began to drop out and take the cash.
As the bribe continued on,MrBeastkept pushing things further, getting to a point where he was offering $1 million for those who would drop out. The catch, however, was that while the money was real, those who quit would also forfeit the chances of other people in their area, quitting for them as well. While the twist was harsh, it was one of the most shocking opening sequences to a reality TV competition ever.
9Player 566 Taking Half Of A Shared $1 Million Prize
JC Gallego Iori Quickly Became Infamous
Player 566, whose real name is JC Gellego Iori, was featured heavily in the first few episodes of the series and then came back into play in the last episodes, as well. Throughout the competition, JC bonded with other players and ultimately made an alliance to carry himself through the game. While there were other alliances on the show, it was clear that JC’s alliance was a powerhousewho genuinely wanted to see each other do well, even if there would only be one winner of the reality TV competition.
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When JC was faced with a massive decision, however, he chose to move selfishly in the game in a shocking move.MrBeast gave JC the opportunity to take $650,000and sabotage many of his closest allies, and the player chose to take the money rather than move forward with his allies. Showing his allegiance was true to himself, JC took the money and caused ahuge amount of animosity fromBeast Gameviewers.
8Player 976’s Sabotage During The Beast Island Challenge
Daffne Cruz Sabotaged The Game
AlthoughBeast Gameshad opportunities for the players to sabotage each other at every turn, some players decided to take the opportunity to do so even when they weren’t asked. Daffne Cruz, Player 976, sabotaged the game quickly within the first few episodes of the series, though they weren’t necessarily given the opportunity by MrBeast himself. During one of the early challenges,Daffne managed to use a creative strategy that may have painted them as the villainbut kept them in the game.
During the Beast Island challenge, Daffne and the rest of the players had to hold a ball for as close to ten minutes as possible but had no clock to refer to. As a strategy,Daffne chose to yell random numbers to distract other players, causing many to fumble and drop their balls early. While many were surprised that Daffne went so hard, it carried them through the game with ease.
7Player 379 Getting His Teammates Eliminated
He Refused To Participate In A Challenge
AlthoughBeast Gameshad some challenges that were more difficult than others, challenges, that incorporated mental and physical challenges were the toughest for the competitors.Beast Gameswas looking to ensurethat the players had a well-rounded portfolio as they moved through the competition, which meant some players who couldn’t handle an array of challenges did better than others. Player 379, Connor Dante, took the degree of difficulty in one challenge to another level.
When faced with a challenge, where he had to make a decision that would impact himself and the rest of his teammates, Connor made a decision that was better for him than anyone else. Within the competition, the competitors had to throw bottle cups into a cardboard box from the other side of a room. Connor lost the game, which would have eliminated him, but then refused to concede, whichmade it so that the rest of his team had to forfeit the competition entirely.
6MrBeast’s Ultimatum Offer For Self-Elimination
Another Ultimatum Caused Stress For Dozens
At a later point in the competition, MrBeast brought back his ultimatum from early on in the competition with a new twist. Offering to pay out competitors who would be willing to forfeit their spot in the competition,MrBeast sweetened the offer the second time around and made it clear that the money would be well worth their decisionto leave. While MrBeast wasn’t giving away as much as the final prize pot, he was upping the ante considerably.
With staggering amounts of money offered for the players to choose to leave the game, MrBeast swayed some with the prize money. Sharing he would give players who left the game up to $1 million,MrBeast swayed some with his offerwhile making it clear who was in the competition to play.A few players did take MrBeast’s offer, which was surprising in itself for a group of high-caliber competitors.
5Player 539’s Racially Insensitive Decision To Eliminate
Akira Andrews Was Called Out For His Behavior
Along with being a competition that put players' physical and mental fortitude to the test,Beast Gamesbecame a social experiment of sorts. While the show has a lot in common with theSquid Game: The Challengemodel,Beast Gameshad a different caliber of competitors on the show. During one challenge, Player 539 was asked to decide which contestants to eliminate from the competition. His decision came with a lot of backlash.
Player 539, Akira Andrews, chose to eliminate several people of color from the competition when he was asked to decide who to cut on his own. While Akira tried to defend himself and explain that they were people he wasn’t aligned with, it was clear thatAkira had chosen specifically female minority groups to eliminate from the game. As a white man, Akira’s racially insensitive decision was widely panned.
4Player 453’s $5 Million Loss
Michael Robert House Ultimately Won Some Money
Throughout the competition, there were moments where players would be able to make space for themselves and claim money from the final prize. Michael Robert House, Player 453, wasn’t featured heavily until nearly the end of the season. Though he had been featured as a team captain during one of the group challenges in an earlier episode,Michael didn’t have much screen time until the very end of the season.
Michael, who is allegedly a Grammy award winner, made it through the competition strategically and ultimately found himself with some big decisions to make. Near the end of a competition, he claimed over $200,00 out of the$1 million offer from MrBeast, making it so he at least won some money on the show, but only after he forfeited a possible $5 million prize.Michael’s decision to lose out on $5 millionto guarantee himself a fraction of the money was shocking.
3Player 974 Volunteering To Sacrifice His Game
Gage Gallagher Allowed Others To Compete In The End
After the grueling competitions ofBeast Games, many of the players were burnt out on making decisions and competing overall. Player 974, Gage Gallagher, made it through the competition to the very end. After some major ups and downs within the challenges, Gage was looking at the final challenge, along with several other players. While Gage had a great chance,it was clear that he had some stiff competition that he wasn’t certain he could beat.
Gage volunteered to sacrifice his game,giving up the chance at $10 million in order to take home a guaranteed $1 million. While some were confused on why Gage chose to give up such a big opportunity, it was clear that he was happy with a guaranteed million-dollar prize, rather than competing and potentially going home with nothing. Even Gage’s competitors were confused about his decision, but it was in their best interest.
2Player 952 Winning A Private Island
Mia Speight Took Home An Interesting Prize
Althoughmoney was primarily what MrBeast was giving awayduringBeast Games, there were some moments where he went off-script and gave away prizes that weren’t monetary.One of the biggest instances of this was MrBeast giving away an island. While the logistics of this aren’t quite clear, one of the players fromBeast Gamesdid go home with a private island in their name.
Mia Speight, Player 952, opened a briefcase during a competition that won her the deed to a private island. Though there hasn’t been much commentary surrounding this prize, viewers are curious about the nature of the island, how she will be awarded the island, and what the logistics surrounding the prize are.Beast Gamesdidn’t offer much intel about the prize, leaving some wondering just how legitimate Mia’s island ownership is.
1Player 831’s Massive Grand Prize Winnings
Jeffrey Randall Allen Was The Big Winner
Although the beginning of the competition advertisedBeast Gamesas a showwhere players could win up to $5 million, there was a twist in the final episode that allowed the final players to win much more money.Beast Gameswinner, Jeffrey Randall, Allen, went home with a staggering amount of money. Player 831, Jeffrey, along with several other players,went home with major prizes that were above the initial $5 million draw.
After a twist allowed the prize money to be doubled,Jeffery went home with a total of $10 million from the grand prize. As the winner ofBeast Games, Jeffrey won the most money that anyone has ever won on a reality TV competition series.Beast Gamesseason 1 was legendary and the prize money that went along with it was life-changing and inconceivable.
