YouTube personality Jimmy Donaldson, a.k.a billionaire MrBeast, responded to the criticism he received after his latest giveaway.
MrBeast is known for his giveaways and expensive stunts, but his latest video gained more traction than even he could've imagined.
In the video—which was posted just a few days ago and already has over 71 million views—MrBeast revealed he "cured 1,000 people's blindness" by paying for surgeries they couldn't afford.
While the act was undoubtedly generous with some claiming they now see better than they have their whole lives, it garnered a conversation surrounding healthcare in the United States as well as the actual degree of selflessness displayed by MrBeast.
The first eye-opening piece of information is that the surgery takes only about 10 minutes and the only reason these people waited their entire lives for a 10-minute surgery is because of the $3500 price tag.
Sadly, many insurance plans don't cover the "luxury" surgery and Medicare only covers about 80%... only if it's approved and the deductible has been met.
Mr Beast even tweeted.
"I don't understand why curable blindness is a thing. Why don't governments step in and help?"
"Even if you're thinking purely from a financial standpoint it's hard to see how they don't roi on taxes from people being able to work again."
\u201cI don\u2019t understand why curable blindness is a thing. Why don\u2019t governments step in and help? Even if you\u2019re thinking purely from a financial standpoint it\u2019s hard to see how they don\u2019t roi on taxes from people being able to work again.\u201d— MrBeast (@MrBeast) 1675088051
Many viewers of the video shared their outrage that 1,000 people had more hopes in a YouTuber than their own healthcare.
@TheZatzman/Twitter
Others were upset for a different reason, though, claiming that Donaldson 1) doesn't use his own money for these stunts but rather his charities and/or corporate sponsors and 2) one rich person "reeking of capitalism" is providing for those wronged by the healthcare system which is overshadowing the needed conversation of universal healthcare.
\u201cmy take on the mr beast stuff is it was way too easy for one (1) rich guy to provide life-altering healthcare to a huge number of ppl & that itself is a gross thing, & i hate flashy, glorified acts of charity bc they aren\u2019t a solution at all, but also he isn\u2019t literally satan\u201d— daniella (@daniella) 1675095146
\u201cTbh MrBeast reeks of capitalism despite his good intentions, the fact 1000 people need to get their eyesight recovered over a single video really shows that the USA healthcare system is backwards from reality, and this video was genuinely a cancerous tumor to even watch tbh\u201d— billygoat (COMMS OPENING SOON) (@billygoat (COMMS OPENING SOON)) 1675125104
\u201cAmericans will praise Mr. Beast for helping 1,000 blind people see again and then not support universal healthcare\u201d— gianmarco (@gianmarco) 1675102881
\u201cThe problem is not Mr Beast using his money to help people. This is objectively good. The problem is Mr Beast being a big fan of capitalism which is the system that led these blind people to not having universal healthcare so they wouldn\u2019t have needed his help in the first place\u201d— Ryan Beard (@Ryan Beard) 1675043130
MrBeast had some responses for those claiming that his latest stunt was less than altruistic and that he profited from his act of generosity.
He made some valid points in his first tweet.
"It did raise awareness and get tons of people talking."
"Also what profits?" The average MrBeast video lost $1,500,000 last year lol."
\u201c@theserfstv It did raise awareness and get tons of people talking. Also what profits? The average MrBeast video lost $1,500,000 last year lol\u201d— MrBeast (@MrBeast) 1675119449
His comments did not make matters any better amongst his viewers.
You're completely correct that it has gotten people talking, I will take the L on that and delete the tweet.
But cmon Jimmy are you serious? You have multiple channels, a clothing line, an international fast food chain that's in my city. You're not in the business of losing money
— The Serfs (@theserfstv) January 31, 2023
You’re engaging with a guy who doesn’t care about issues beyond what Twitter likes he can get from them. Which requires him to ignore any angle other than the most outrageous and disingenuous one.
— Lycan (@LycanGTV) January 30, 2023
The point remains that the issue @theserfstv has with the videos is not necessarily with you but with the fact that you could use your platform to do more than raise awareness, but actually affect change. We don't live in a good society that paywalls getting their vision fixed.
— Yamilaz (@KadaLazarre) January 31, 2023
It seemed that MrBeast gave up on trying to defend his video and instead posted a snarky Tweet in response to the backlash.
"Twitter - Rich people should help others with their money."
"Me - Okay, I'll use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny."
"Twitter - MrBeast bad."
\u201cTwitter - Rich people should help others with their money\n\nMe - Okay, I\u2019ll use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny.\n\nTwitter - MrBeast bad\u201d— MrBeast (@MrBeast) 1675119794
This one actually garnered some sympathy from fans.
MrBeast good
— Lex Fridman (@lexfridman) January 30, 2023
They are simply attention seeking losers. You have done great things & will continue to do as such.
— KEEM 🍿 (@KEEMSTAR) January 30, 2023
Some people are addicted to negativity, and alas they are usually the loudest. Thank you for trying to make the world a more joyful place ❤️
— Liv Boeree (@Liv_Boeree) January 30, 2023
And some pointed out that the outrage wasn't a personal attack but rather misdirected anger.
that's interesting because what i mostly saw was people trying to say that it felt weird and made them uncomfortable
because people should get medical treatment without a rich person doing it for content
but it's easier to pretend they're saying he, personally, is bad
— christina 死神 (GAY) (MILF) (@chhopsky) February 1, 2023
Nobody is mad. People just discussing the ethical ramifications of philanthropy. Thinking people are mad is inaccurate
— Leila B (@leilaclaire) January 31, 2023
You’re at a level where you can change structures underlying why people can’t afford to not be blind. Instead you perpetuate the system making it happen. This isn’t an attack on you, it’s a valid critique of philanthropy’s role in upholding capitalism. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Rafael Shimunov (@rafaelshimunov) February 1, 2023
I honestly think it comes down to this: people don't want rich people's charity. They want systemic change that allows everyone to be rich people.
— actingliketommy (@actingliketommy) January 30, 2023
MrBeast has yet to comment or post any further, but it appears that his viewers have given him a lot to think about.