According to a report by media outlet Dexerto， the world’s top influencer， “MrBeast，” has recently ignited public controversy over the content of his latest video.
In his new challenge， participants were tasked with competing for a $500，000 prize (approximately 3.65 million RMB) within a chamber surrounded by flames. The video’s opening narration posed a thought-provoking question: “Would you risk getting burned to save $500，000?”
The video quickly surpassed one million views and has since garnered over 43 million views.
Netizens widely criticized the challenge as unethical， with some commenting that MrBeast is transforming into a villain from a horror movie. The challenge subsequently presented seven stages， each labeled as a “death trap.” The contestant， Erik， had to navigate through a series of fire obstacles， including leaping through flaming hoops and submerging himself under burning water.
The video repeatedly emphasized that Erik is a professional stuntman， and he himself stated through voice-over， “My professional experience makes me very accustomed to these crazy challenges.” The contestant revealed that his motivation for participating was to raise medical funds for his father， who is battling cancer.
Despite the inherent dangers of the challenge， the production team reportedly implemented extensive safety measures. In the final challenge， where Erik had to traverse a fire-laden area spanning several meters， he was outfitted in multiple layers of protective clothing and had his skin coated with fire-retardant gel to prevent severe burns. Publicly released footage indicates that the team did indeed take numerous precautions to avert life-threatening injuries.
However， the circulated clips online often omit this crucial background information. Many viewers were left with the impression of Erik struggling for survival in a room engulfed by flames， reigniting accusations that MrBeast is exploiting participants’ desperation for money by putting their lives at risk.
In response to the overwhelming negative feedback， MrBeast quickly issued a statement. He initially commented under the YouTube video， emphasizing that safety is their utmost priority. He revealed that all challenges were pre-tested by multiple stunt professionals， a professional rescue team equipped with fire trucks and ambulances were present on-site， along with a dedicated fire control team and multiple extinguishing systems.
As the topic gained significant traction on Twitter， with nearly 59 million impressions， MrBeast spoke out again the following day: “I need to clarify that we have exhaust systems and emergency fire suppression switches. All segments have been repeatedly tested by professionals， and the participants in the video are professional stunt performers. My commitment to safety is beyond your imagination.”
