MrBeast Co-Host Ava Kris Tyson Quits YouTube Channel, Apologizes Amid Grooming Allegations

James Donaldson creator of MrBeast (2nd from R) and Ava Kris Tyson (R) attend the Nickelodeon's 2023 Kid's Choice Awards on March 4, 2023. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

The co-host of a famous internet show has issued an apology following accusations of exchanging inappropriate messages with a minor.

Ava Kris Tyson rose to fame after joining the MrBeast YouTube channel. Previously known as Chris Tyson, the internet personality announced that he identified as transgender in 2023, undergoing hormone replacement therapy and using female pronouns.

On Tuesday, Mr. Tyson, 28, posted a statement on X apologizing for his “past behavior” and “comments” and announced that he must “step away” from MrBeast’s channel and social media.

“I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone,” he said. “It was not my intent. Seeing recent events 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.”

Allegations against the former co-host began surfacing after other YouTubers posted videos online that accused him of messaging a minor when he was 20 years old.

Mr. Tyson said that he “never groomed anyone” adding that the then-minor involved, who goes by the username @LavaGS on X, has attested that the allegations are false.

“I want to add, I never groomed anyone,” he said. “The person who gets brought up in these accusations @LavaGS has vocally supported that they are false.”

“Having said that, I humbly apologise 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.”

Mr. Tyson then called the grooming accusations “disgusting” and that he can’t change his past. He shared that he departed from MrBeast so that other employees aren’t affected by the controversy.

“To lump these two factors together to create a narrative that my behavior extended beyond bad edgy jokes is disgusting and did not happen,” he said. “In past years, I have learned that my old humor is not acceptable. I cannot change who I was, but I can continue to work on myself.”

“I don’t want these accusations to impact the hundreds of people who work at MrBeast, which is why I have stepped away.”

The alleged victim @LavaGS, now 20 years old, posted screenshots of the accusing videos, saying that they are “twisting the truth.” The user denied being “exploited” or “taken advantage of.”

“These videos are massive lies and twisting the truth. Ava never did anything wrong and just made a few edgy jokes. I was never exploited or taken advantage of,” the user wrote.

“I am not a victim of anything being claimed in these videos or at all.”

James Donaldson, the creator of MrBeast, has yet to comment on the allegations.