2024-07-25 19:05:02
MrBeast YouTube co-host Ava Kris Tyson is quitting the popular channel after allegations surfaced of grooming a minor.
Tyson was recently accused of sending inappropriate messages to a then-13-year-old when she was 20-years-old.
“I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone,” Tyson said in a social media statement. “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,” she added.
Later, Tyson said, “I want to add, I never groomed anyone. The person who gets brought up in these accusations, has vocally supported that they are false.”
The accuser has been identified by the handle @LavaGS on X and goes by Lava.
Lava, now age 20, wrote, “Ava never did anything wrong and just made a few edgy jokes. I was never exploited or taken advantage of.”
Tyson called some of the posts off-color. “I humbly apologize 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. To lump these two factors together to create a narrative that my behavior extended beyond bad edgy jokes is disgusting and did not happen,” she went on. “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.”
Tyson added, “I don’t want these accusations to impact the hundreds of people who work at MrBeast, which is why I have stepped away.”
Tyson had appeared alongside MrBeast since 2012 on his YouTube channel, which has over 300 million subscribers, more than anyone else on YouTube.
Tyson, who declared as a transgender woman last year, was accused of grooming in a 45-minute video posted online in June by the account Prism42, according to Rolling Stone.
