MrBeast gives update on TikTok 'offer' after app goes dark for 170 million US users

In a dramatic turn of events, TikTok has gone dark for 170 million U.S. users after the popular app was pulled from both Apple and Google’s app stores on January 18.

The move came just ahead of a federal law designed to ban the social media giant, leaving users with nothing more than a message on their screens that read, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

The uncertainty around the future of TikTok has prompted a handful of high-profile figures to step forward with offers to buy the app, and one of the most notable names to throw his hat in the ring is YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast.

On January 14, MrBeast tweeted: “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” His tweet quickly went viral, igniting a wave of hope among TikTok fans for a potential resolution.

"I've had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this, let’s see if we can pull this off," MrBeast told his followers shortly after his initial tweet, hinting at serious talks. The 26-year-old star continued to keep his audience on edge, sharing updates about meetings with "a bunch of billionaires." In a follow-up TikTok video, MrBeast remarked, "Just got out of a meeting with a bunch of billionaires, TikTok, we mean business."

As the clock ticks down toward the official ban, fans eagerly await more details. One fan tweeted their hopes for the YouTube mogul to make good on his promise, and MrBeast responded with a cryptic "Can’t say anything right now, stay tuned."