YouTube megastar Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, was filmed remaining silent when his fellow streamers shouted “Free Palestine” during his record-setting Team Water charity livestream.
The event - aimed at raising $5 million for global water purification projects - was hosted by Donaldson and featured popular creators xQc and Adin Ross, both known for their sizeable online followings. Throughout the broadcast, the trio engaged viewers with interactive challenges, donation incentives, and milestone “reward” stunts.
The controversy began when a viewer comment prompted xQc and Ross to chant “Free Palestine” live on stream. Cameras showed Donaldson remaining silent, focused on his phone, as the two repeated the slogan.
Donaldson has in the past allowed anti-Israel bias in his videos, including during his Internet Olympics video which prominently featured a comment against Israel. A representative from Palestine was allowed to compete as well, with Palestine being lit up in Judea and Samaria on a map.
The livestream featured another controversial moment when Donaldson accepted a large donation from adult video performer Sophie Rain.
Despite the controversy, Team Water ultimately broke the world record for the most money ever raised during a single livestream. After surpassing the original $5 million goal, the creators extended the event, ultimately bringing in $12 million with contributions from multiple celebrities and corporate sponsors.
The Team Water campaign follows Donaldson’s previous large-scale philanthropy projects - including Team Trees and Team Seas - and continues his focus on environmental and humanitarian causes. Donaldson's main MrBeast YouTube channel boasts 450M followers, and he manages a large number of other channels with millions of followers.