Ava Kris Tyson, a longtime friend and co-host on MrBeast’s YouTube channel, has stepped down following allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a minor. Tyson, who’s 28 and had come out as a transgender last year, has been part of MrBeast’s videos since 2012.
The controversy started when a video claimed that the co-host had sent inappropriate messages to a 20-year-old when she was 13. Tyson quickly responded to these claims on X, saying,
“I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone,” Tyson said. “It was not my intent.”
She also firmly denied the most serious accusations, stating, “I never groomed anyone.”
However, the person at the center of these claims, now 20 years old and known online as Lava, has defended Tyson.
“Ava never did anything wrong and just made a few edgy jokes. I was never exploited or taken advantage of,” Lava said.
Despite this support, Ava Kris Tyson decided to leave the MrBeast channel. She explained,
“We’ve mutually decided it’s best I permanently step away from all things MrBeast and social media to focus on my family and mental health.”
Tyson did admit to making some off-color jokes in the past.
“I humbly apologize to anyone I have hurt with my unacceptable social media posts, past actions, and to those who may feel betrayed by how I used to act online,” she said.
However, she insisted that these jokes didn’t cross into more serious territory.
MrBeast himself, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, hasn’t commented on the situation yet. His channel is hugely popular, with over 300 million subscribers. In the past, he’s defended Tyson against online attacks, showing how close they’ve been over the years.
