YouTuber MrBeast’s recent post has been met with confusion online, with some viewers unsure whether it was an April Fools’ joke.

Newsweek has contacted a representative for MrBeast for comment via email outside regular working hours.

Why It Matters

Jimmy Donaldson, 26, who is known professionally as MrBeast, holds the record for the most subscribers on YouTube—381 million as of press time. In January 2022, Forbes ranked Donaldson as the highest-earning content creator. His estimated annual income was $54 million, drawn mostly from ads on his YouTube videos.

At 13, he began posting on the video-sharing platform, with his page mostly consisting of Minecraft and Call of Duty videos. His account began gaining traction in the mid-2010s, and his content has evolved over time into grand-scale giveaways and extreme challenges.

His recent uploads include videos such as “Last to Leave Their Circle Wins $500,000” and “I Spent 100 Hours Inside the Pyramids,” and he has faced criticism over such content.

What To Know

On Tuesday, Donaldson wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Proud to announce I’ve burned down 20,000,000 trees! Can’t wait to upload this video.”

The post has since received more than 5 million views and 3,000 comments, with one user writing, “How many kids did you blind mr beast?”

Donaldson replied, “1,000 so then I have more to cure!”

Many users have viewed the post as a joke for April Fools’ Day, when people try to fool others with tricks and pranks, though Donaldson has not publicly confirmed this.

Such a joke would be consistent with the YouTuber’s online persona, as Donaldson often jokes on social media.

However, some social media users were confused by the post, with one writing: “Isn’t this wrong?.. thought you grew trees.”

“Why would anyone be proud of burning down trees,” another added. “What am I missing here.”

The popular YouTuber is no stranger to criticism or scandal. In 2024, a former producer on his channel sued him over allegations that she had not been paid overtime while working for him, and multiple employees were fired from Donaldson’s company following a three-month-long investigation into sexual misconduct and inappropriate workplace conduct.

However, these scandals do not appear to have hurt Donaldson, who has continued to enjoy significant growth in spite of the spate of negative headlines.

What People Are Saying

One user wrote on X: “What a terrible Joke.”

Another wrote: “Isn’t that bad for the environment?”

A commenter said: “Is he for real or is this a joke?”

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether Donaldson will update his followers on whether he was joking.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.