MrBeast is famous for pulling some of the most elaborate (and costly!) stunts YouTube has ever seen.
I mean, the guy has done everything, from giving away a million dollars to whoever could carry all of the bills to spending 50 hours in a maximum security prison.
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So, it really seemed like only a matter of time before MrBeast decided to hold his own version of Netflix's hit, Squid Game.
Once the video hit that milestone (it currently has 17.8 million likes 🤯), MrBeast began setting up his take on the games, promising his fans that it was going to be as accurate to the show as possible.
I’m gonna go all out on this irl Squid Game video, give me a month to gather 456 random people and recreate all the sets 😭
The project turned out to be pretty pricey...
@forpzy Around 2 mil to build and produce and 1.5 mil in prizes
... and very time-consuming, with construction lasting over a month.
Recreating Squid Games is costing more then I thought it would but i’m in to deep to stop now lol
While I totally agree that the sets are impressive recreations, some have pointed out that it feels a little tone-deaf. MrBeast is shelling out millions to recreate the games from the show, which pits contestants with high debt against each other in dangerous situations to win money that could change their lives.
@MrBeast @forpzy Just flaunting some casual wealth disparity. In a mock recreation of a show about flaunting wealth disparity.
WHY CANT MR BEAST USE ALL OF HIS MONEY TO UM…. HELP PEOPLE IN NEED MAYBE????? INSTEAD OF MAKING SUCH AN IRONIC SQUID GAME!
@MrBeast @forpzy It's really like you haven't even seen the show or got the point of it.
Meanwhile, others have acknowledged that MrBeast does a lot of charity work that shouldn't be overshadowed by his Squid Game project.
People really bagging on @MrBeast about the squid game, need to take a long look in the mirror and realize they don't even do .000001 percent of what he does for charity
In addition to his main YouTube channel, MrBeast runs Beast Philanthropy, a channel where 100% of the revenue goes to a food pantry that he opened earlier this year, as well as his other charitable efforts. He is also currently leading efforts to remove over 30 million pounds of trash from oceans by January 2022, and has previously campaigned to raise $20 million to plant trees all over the globe.
Other MrBeast defenders are even flipping the drama back onto Netflix, commenting on how much money the streamer has currently made from the surprise hit.
"Squid game is Anti Capitalist So it's Tone deaf for MrBeast to recreate it" Squid game is so Anti Capitalist it made Netflix $1 billion and is getting a 2nd season, MrBeast is giving the community what they want and spending a shit ton of his money to do it
MrBeast isn't the only one under fire for putting his own spin on Squid Game. Other YouTubers like James Charles, Piper Rockelle, and the group behind OfflineTV have posted videos of their own Squid Game recreations, with each racking up millions of views.
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Their attempts were also controversial, with some calling the influencers "out of touch" and others pointing out the irony of millionaires competing against each other to win money.
Even celebrities like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen faced a similar outpouring of backlash when they hosted a bash based on the hit series earlier this month.
So far, MrBeast seems to be totally ignoring the criticism, announcing Thursday that filming has been completed.
Squid Game has been filmed and now just needs editing, it is the craziest video we’ve ever filmed times 100! Should be up early next week :)