MrBeast co-host Ava Kris Tyson quits over grooming claims

MrBeast's YouTube partner Ava Kris Tyson has left the channel following accusations of grooming, which she has refuted.

The 28-year-old US YouTuber, who has over 22,000 followers on her channel, allegedly sent improper messages to a young person, who was said to be 13 at the time, while she was 20.

On X, Ava refuted the accusations by stating, "I have never attempted to influence or manipulate anyone," but expressed regret for her actions in the past in a formal statement.

She mentioned that both she and MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, have come to a mutual agreement that it would be best for her to permanently remove herself from everything related to MrBeast and social media. This decision was made in order to prioritize her family and mental well-being.

Ava gained popularity after starring in videos with MrBeast on his popular YouTube channel, which has over 300 million subscribers since 2012.

In the year 2022, he achieved the highest number of subscribers on YouTube and is famous for his large-scale stunts and videos showcasing his charitable work.

Last year, Ava shared that she is a transgender woman and is currently receiving therapy to affirm her gender identity. She also started using she/her pronouns.

Accusations were first brought up against her last month in videos posted by fellow YouTubers. They claim that she messaged a person under 18 when she was 20 years old.

Ava replied, stating that the idea that her actions went beyond just making edgy jokes is appalling and completely untrue.

"I have come to realize that the humor I used to think was funny is no longer okay. While I can't erase my past actions, I am committed to growing and improving as a person."

I want to sincerely apologize to anyone who has been hurt by my inappropriate social media posts and past behavior. I am truly sorry to those who feel let down by my previous actions online.

The person claiming to be a victim, who has been identified online, has spoken out in support of Ava, stating that the videos are complete fabrications and distortions of the truth.

Ava was always innocent and only made a couple of daring jokes. I was never manipulated or unfairly treated.

BBC Newsbeat has reached out to Ava Kris Tyson and MrBeast's representatives for a statement.

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