MrBeast's Company Sued by Former Executive Over Alleged Sexual Harassment
Beast Industries has denied what it described as a "clout‑chasing complaint" filed by a former executive who alleges pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment. The company said the claims are built on "deliberate misrepresentations and categorically false statements," adding that it has evidence, including internal messages and documents, that it says refutes the allegations.
The lawsuit, filed April 22 in federal court in North Carolina by Lorrayne Mavromatis, has put renewed scrutiny on the media business founded by YouTube star 27-year-old James Stephen "Jimmy" Donaldson, better known as MrBeast.
Mavromatis alleges she was fired shortly after returning from maternity leave and following years of what she describes as harassment and gender bias inside the media production company. Beast Industries has rejected those claims and said Mavromatis's position was eliminated as part of a restructuring.
Donaldson, the YouTube personality turned entrepreneur, founded Beast Industries, a conglomerate that includes MrBeast's YouTube channels, MrBeast Burger, Feastables and other ventures. Known for high‑intensity challenge videos and large‑scale philanthropy, Donaldson has more than 479 million subscribers on YouTube and is among the most followed creators on TikTok.
Newsweek reached out to Donaldson’s representatives for comment via email.
What Claims Have Been Made?
Mavromatis was hired in 2022 as head of Instagram and later moved up to head of creative, according to the complaint. She says she ultimately earned $250,000 a year managing the company's verticals division. In the lawsuit, she describes Beast Industries as a "boy's club" where female employees were subjected to comments about their appearance and where complaints about harassment and inappropriate behavior were ignored or minimized.
The complaint alleges violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act, as well as wrongful discharge and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It does not name Donaldson as a defendant and does not bring a standalone claim of sexual harassment. Mavromatis has also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging discrimination based on sex, pregnancy and retaliation.
Among the allegations is a claim that former CEO James Warren required one‑on‑one meetings at his home and dismissed concerns raised by Mavromatis about a client's sexual advances. The lawsuit also alleges that when Mavromatis questioned why Donaldson would not work with her on certain projects, she was told that she was a "beautiful woman" and that her appearance had a sexual effect on him. The company has said that allegation was fabricated to generate headlines and money.
Mavromatis further points to an internal handbook distributed to employees that stated "no does not mean no" and that "the amount of hours you work is irrelevant." She claims there was no clear process for reporting harassment or discrimination in 2023, when she raised concerns about Warren and Donaldson. After an internal investigation, she says she was demoted to a social media manager role focused on merchandise.
The lawsuit also centers on her treatment during pregnancy and maternity leave.
Mavromatis alleges she was asked to continue working while on leave, including on projects involving international travel. She has said she worked "nonstop," even during labor. Less than three weeks after returning to work full time, she says she was fired.
How Did Beast Industries Respond?
Beast Industries disputes that account. In response to claims that she was not informed of her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the company shared a screenshot showing her signature acknowledging receipt of an employee handbook that included FMLA policies. The company also cited a 2025 Slack exchange in which a coworker told Mavromatis she "shouldn't even be checking" messages after learning she was in labor.
On April 22, Donaldson was questioned about the lawsuit at the Time100 Summit in New York. He said his company has grown to about 750 employees and that he brought in more experienced leaders as it scaled. He said he was not best suited to set culture at that size and praised the role of a new executive team.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 3:59 AM.