MrBeast Responds to Philanthropy Criticism
YouTube sensation Jimmy “MrBeast”has recently addressed backlash regarding his philanthropic efforts, specifically his latest project aimed at combating child slavery in Africa. On April 6, 2025, the Kansas native took to social media platform X to share the release of a new video, emphasizing his mission to raise awareness about significant global issues. He further noted that all proceeds generated from this video would support a charitable organization dedicated to aiding affected individuals.
In his X announcement, MrBeast communicated the following:
“New Beast Philanthropy video we got kids out of literal slavery in West Africa and tried to shine a light on some serious stuff. All revenue from this channel goes towards the non profit ❤️”
His post quickly gained traction online, amassing over a million views within hours. While many fans expressed gratitude for his charitable initiatives, a segment of critics emerged, questioning his approach.
One notable critic, X user @scotchscotchz, voiced their concerns about MrBeast’s focus on international philanthropy rather than addressing domestic issues. In a series of posts, they suggested that the creator was merely “virtue signaling”and argued for prioritizing assistance for Americans:
“How about you help Americans if you’re gonna virtue signal for profit. I’m just sick and f**king tired of charity. All it does is delay people’s suffering. Africa has been the same s**t hole since before Ancient Greece. Nothing ever makes a difference there. Help your own people and community if you feel guilty about having money,”X user @scotchscotchz wrote.
In response to the criticism, MrBeast clarified that he contributes significantly to American communities as well, providing millions of meals annually. He hinted that detailing all his charitable efforts within the United States would be extensive, remarking:
“We do routine food drives in America and give millions of meals away for free to Americans each year. If I listed out all the projects we’ve done in America this tweet would be a book. Yet every time I help people in Africa my top reply is I don’t help my own country lol.”
Previous Controversies Surrounding MrBeast’s Philanthropic Initiatives
This latest controversy isn’t MrBeast’s first brush with backlash regarding his charitable work in Africa. In March 2023, he sparked debate when he distributed 20,000 pairs of shoes to disadvantaged children on the continent, leading some online to accuse him of using these acts of kindness as mere content for his popular YouTube channel.
On March 9, 2025, in an effort to quell the criticism, MrBeast reiterated that the funds generated from his Beast Philanthropy channel are allocated to support various initiatives, including food pantries. He explained his philosophy behind combining philanthropy with entertainment:
“Just a reminder for those of you that don’t normally watch this channel, Beast Philanthropy is a charity we run and all the revenue from these videos goes towards running our food pantries and helping people around the world. Our charity owns this channel; I thought it’d be fun to use my fame to create a loop of helping. Film good deed, inspire millions of kids to do good, use revenue from good deed to do next good deed ❤️”
In addition to his philanthropic work, MrBeast has also shared personal milestones, recently posting about his “biggest flex,”which he described as his “beautiful fiancé,”following an appearance on the red carpet at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.