Two of YouTube’s biggest creators, MrBeast and Jacksepticeye, recently engaged in a brief-but-intense feud on X (the website formerly known as Twitter), much to the surprise of fans.
Who is Jacksepticeye?
Jacksepticeye or “Jack” (Seán McLoughlin) is an Irish YouTuber who rose to fame through his Let’s Play videos, known for his unfiltered commentary and wicked sense of humor. His content has been praised as “talking-head, stream-of-consciousness comedy” and Jack describes himself as the “most energetic video game commentator on YouTube.”
Over the years, Jack’s content has branched out into sketch comedy, vlogs and memes; he currently boasts more than 30 million subscribers on YouTube.
Who is MrBeast?
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is an American YouTuber who has grown into a powerful brand, boasting more than 181 million subscribers; his channel is the second-most-subscribed on YouTube and he was ranked as the highest paid YouTube creator by Forbes in 2022.
MrBeast is known for creating high-concept, elaborately staged videos that focus on sheer spectacle or generous acts of charity toward the needy.
What sparked the feud between Jacksepticeye and MrBeast?
A video clip that went viral on social media saw Jack hooked up to a lie detector, then asked some blunt questions about MrBeast.
Jack didn’t hold back on his opinion, confidently stating that MrBeast “ruined YouTube” and permanently changed the game of content creation, for the worse.
”It became more about views, money, and popularity than it did about having fun. If he had fun doing those videos, they’d be longer. We’d see the fun,” Jack said.
YouTube fans, always relishing drama between creators, retweeted and commented on the clip, until the video drew the attention of MrBeast on “X,” prompting the YouTuber to make a defensive comment:
“Sooo, I ‘ruined YouTube’ because I didn’t buy a mansion and sports cars and instead reinvested my $ into making content/focused on doing good and inspiring kids to help people?
‘If he had fun the videos would be longer’ what does that even mean lol. You think I’d give up every hour of my life for 14 years if I didn’t have fun?
This clip is insanely disrespectful imo and obviously there is so much I could say about his content but I’ll just take the punches and be the bigger man. Sigh.”
MrBeast soon deleted the comment, but the internet had already taken screenshots and passed it around social media, leading to more commentary from fans and fellow creators.
Ethan Klein of h3h3productions replied directly to the comment, defending MrBeast’s content and pointing out Jack’s perceived hypocrisy. Klein wrote:
“He’s wrong for that Jimmy. And no disrespect to Jacksepticeye, he’s a nice guy by all accounts, but he spent the majority of his career power posting two let’s plays per day… You don’t post that hard unless you’re trying to make a lot of money, let’s be real. And dude you post let’s plays, not exactly the pinnacle of artistry and effort.
Also this revisionist history of a utopian YouTube where no one cared about views and everyone was having fun all the time is total bs.
The only difference between now and then is that Jimmy has absolutely dominated the space in a way no body ever has before, making content no one has ever made before. Actually, maybe the first time in YouTube history where the #1 person is also making the best content.”
MrBeast liked the comment. On X, Klein wasn’t the only one to frame Jack’s Let’s Play content as “low effort.”
Many defended MrBeast, noting that YouTube’s cultural shift was systemic, an inevitable result of the algorithm’s pull, and could not be attributed to one individual.
Others criticized MrBeast as having a “hero complex” and noted that there was something disturbing about his combination of gaudy clickbait and humble generosity.
Back when X was still called Twitter, MrBeast’s unintentionally amusing video thumbnails would often go viral, as users found them tasteless, even “demonic.” Mocking MrBeast has become something of an inside joke on the site.
MrBeast’s corporate-sponsored acts of charity have also been criticized by commentators as a cynical branding effort.
Criticisms aside, MrBeast has consistently framed himself as an apolitical entertainer who enjoys helping others. In interviews, he has described himself as “hyper obsessed” with YouTube, and achieved success through remarkable perseverance and determination.
It could be argued that MrBeast’s content has been shaped by YouTube’s culture and algorithm, rather than the other way around.
Either way, the two creators seem to have discussed their feud in private, and have now patched things up. On X, MrBeast posted a smiling emoji and said: “We messaged, we’re Gucci now”, followed by a smiling emoji.
Jacksepticeye confirmed, replying to the message with a cowboy and thumbs-up emoji.
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