YouTube sensation MrBeast shows interest in acquiring TikTok just days before potential ban
With only days left before TikTok could be rendered inaccessible for users in the U.S., a popular YouTube influencer might be considering a bid to take over the app.
Content creator James “Jimmy” Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to say, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” What appeared to be a lighthearted joke gained over 32 million views by Wednesday.
Following this, Donaldson tweeted again on Tuesday: “Unironically, I’ve had so many billionaires reach out to me since I tweeted this. Let’s see if we can pull this off.”
However, he hasn’t revealed any details about these “billionaires” or what his actual plan might be. Instead, he has allowed the internet to speculate. His team did not respond promptly to inquiries from YSL News on Wednesday.
Legislation regarding TikTok ban
Last spring, President Joe Biden enacted a law that would prohibit TikTok in the U.S. if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell the app before Sunday, January 19. If ByteDance does not sell TikTok, the app will be banned in the U.S., making it illegal for hosting services and app stores to distribute it.
This legislation has been in the works for several years, dating back to the administration of President Donald Trump. There are concerns among officials that the platform poses a national security risk, fearing that ByteDance, headquartered in Beijing, might be sharing user data with the Chinese government. Recently, Trump expressed interest in “saving” TikTok and requested the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the ban.
Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments from TikTok, which argued that the ban would infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights. As of Wednesday morning, a decision had not yet been announced by the Court.
Who is MrBeast?
Donaldson, 26, is a renowned YouTube creator who rose to fame in 2017. As of Wednesday, he had an impressive 841 million subscribers on YouTube, making his channel the most followed on the platform.
Recently, he made headlines with the premiere of his first TV show, “Beast Games,” produced in collaboration with Amazon Studios. Inspired by shows like Netflix’s “Squid Game,” NBC’s “Fear Factor,” and CBS’s “Survivor,” “Beast Games” features 1,000 contestants battling for a chance to win a whopping $5 million cash prize.
However, alongside his claim of hosting the largest cash prize game show in TV history, Donaldson and Amazon are facing lawsuits from several contestants alleging workplace abuse, unsafe conditions, and denial of basic needs like food and sleep.
Who else is interested in acquiring TikTok?
Donaldson isn’t alone in expressing interest in purchasing the popular social media app. Here are others who have shown enthusiasm for “saving” TikTok:
- Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX
- Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kevin O’Leary, host of “Shark Tank”
- Bobby Kotick, former CEO of video game company Activision
- Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart
- Microsoft
Greta Cross is a trending national reporter for YSL News. You can follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross.