MrBeast challenges ex-staffer’s harassment lawsuit in official response, seeks case dismissal

MrBeast is wasting no time in officially denying scandalous accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and more from a former staff member of Beast Industries’ social media team.

Already having denied Lorrayne Mavromatis’ allegations in a lawsuit she filed this week against the company in North Carolina federal court, Beast Industries took legal action on Friday to have the case dismissed.

Mocking Mavromatis’ request for “reinstatement” at Beast HQ despite her account of events, a “defendant’s answer and affirmative defenses to complaint” sets the tone by labeling her as a media manipulator and “social media influencer who filed this lawsuit to attract publicity by involving one of the most famous YouTube creators globally.”

“At its core, Plaintiff’s termination was a legitimate business decision, not related to her gender, parental leave, or any issues raised with human resources,” stated the filing by Charlotte-based law firm Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. 

“It was merely a consequence of tough decisions the company had to make to overhaul a particular underperforming department.”

The 21-page document further states: “Plaintiff's claims do not alter these facts. They disregard them.”

“That which remains of Plaintiff’s complaint includes hostile work environment allegations for a claim she hints at but has not yet filed,” it adds, referencing a portion of the suit where Mavromatis and her lawyers mention comments supposedly made by former Beast Industries CEO (and MrBeast’s cousin, also known as Jimmy Donaldson) James Warren. 

“This unfiled claim seems to focus on the behavior of past employees who departed years ago following a widely publicized 2024 culture review ordered by the company’s current management to aid the rapidly expanding company in evolving into its present form. Any claims Plaintiff might try to make regarding the company’s former managers are, however, no longer valid by law.”

Earlier in the week, the Donaldson-founded Beast Industries expressed similar sentiments but in a more direct manner in a statement to Deadline after the claim was initiated. 

“There is an abundance of evidence — including Slack and WhatsApp messages, company documents, and witness statements — that categorically disprove her allegations,” a company representative stated, offering a signed employee handbook and further 2022-2025 communications from Mavromatis as evidence. “We refuse to comply with opportunistic attorneys looking to fabricate a payday from us.”

Much of this alleged evidence, along with a photo of Mavromatis back home in Brazil with soccer player Neymar during a Beast trip, is part of today’s legal submission.

Simultaneously, MrBeast remains involved in a class action lawsuit filed in September 2024 against Beast Industries and Amazon claiming that Season 1 of their competition series Beast Games “exposed the participants to unreasonable, hazardous, and unlawful working conditions.” 

While the legal battle over the allegations regarding the $5 million prize show persists, Season 2 of Beast Games has concluded, and a third season is reportedly being planned.