MrBeast’s collaborator Karl Jacobs reportedly arrested

Allegations have surfaced that Karl Jacobs, a prominent member of the MrBeast team, was recently arrested, according to a viral TikTok video shared by user Zachxposts (known as “Zach news king”), a creator known for sharing breaking news and updates.

In the video, Zach claims that Jacobs, age 26, was booked into a county jail, though he did not specify the exact location. The alleged arrest followed reports that explicit images of minors were circulated within a MrBeast-affiliated Telegram group. Zach further claimed that Jacobs attempted to delete his Telegram account to avoid scrutiny, but his efforts were unsuccessful.

Adding to the controversy, popular YouTuber and baker Rosanna Pansino, who has collaborated with MrBeast in the past, has reportedly filed a report with the FBI, expressing concerns over alleged chat logs from the MrBeast Telegram group.

Zach claimed that Ava Kris Tyson, former member of the MrBeast crew, was also involved in the Telegram chats, while Chandler Hallow was not implicated. The allegations have sparked significant backlash online, with many users on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) expressing surprise.
 

These allegations come shortly after Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, founder of the MrBeast brand, released an official statement addressing a comprehensive investigation into his company. On November 1, Donaldson posted on X, revealing that an investigation, conducted by the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, had concluded after reviewing millions of documents and conducting 39 interviews. “I was asked to refrain from making public statements to ensure a thorough investigation,” Donaldson explained, citing the need for confidentiality to protect the investigation’s integrity.

Donaldson shared that the investigation, which began in July 2024 in response to multiple allegations of misconduct, aimed to address issues of inappropriate behavior and workplace culture within the company. According to Donaldson, the investigation’s findings cleared the company of criminal allegations, including misconduct with minors. “Allegations of sexual misconduct (e.g., pedophilia, grooming, child pornography, etc.) between company employees and minors are without basis. The allegations were soundly rejected, including by alleged victims,” the report from Quinn Emanuel stated.

While serious allegations were dismissed, the investigation did reveal isolated incidents of workplace misconduct. The report mentioned that MrBeast LLC took “swift action” to address these instances, which included disciplinary measures where appropriate. As MrBeast LLC grew rapidly from a small YouTube operation into a larger company, the report acknowledged that certain policies and practices had not kept pace.

To address these gaps, the company implemented several measures, such as mandatory employee training, an anonymous reporting hotline, and a new employee handbook with clear guidelines. The report also noted that MrBeast LLC recently appointed new leadership, including a Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer, and General Counsel, to help foster a professional and safe work environment moving forward. “This officially concludes our investigation,” the report stated.

Karl Jacobs, originally known as GamerBoyKarl, rose to fame as part of MrBeast’s on-screen cast before establishing his own successful YouTube and Twitch channels, primarily featuring Minecraft content. However, these latest allegations have added to a challenging year for MrBeast and his brand.

Earlier in 2024, Jimmy Donaldson faced another controversy when he removed cast member Ava Kris Tyson following accusations of sexual misconduct. In the same month, a former employee released a YouTube video accusing Donaldson of rigging contests, running unlicensed lotteries, and misleading fans.

In September 2024, former contestants of Beast Games filed a class-action lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against MrBeast, Amazon, and associated production companies, alleging mistreatment during the production of the games. These compounded controversies have raised questions about the culture and operations within the MrBeast brand, potentially impacting public perception.