An investigation commissioned by MrBeast has exonerated Ava Kris Tyson from allegations of grooming but identified isolated incidents of workplace harassment. The inquiry comes after MrBeast and Tyson parted ways in July, following disturbing claims suggesting Tyson had groomed a teenager, which led to significant backlash and her resignation.
The third-party investigation, initiated by MrBeast, involved an extensive review of millions of documents and interviews with multiple employees. Its findings confirmed that the serious allegations of grooming were unfounded. MrBeast had previously expressed his disgust and opposition to any unacceptable behavior after facing criticism for defending Tyson. He announced the investigation, which was reportedly led by attorney Alex Spiro from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.
The investigation primarily focused on allegations of pedophilia and misconduct, ultimately concluding that these claims lacked merit. “A three-month investigation into allegations regarding my company has concluded. The law firm/investigators reviewed millions of documents/messages and conducted 39 interviews,” MrBeast stated on X. “I was asked to refrain from making public statements to enable a detailed and unbiased investigation. Below are their conclusions.”
The investigation confirmed that “allegations of sexual misconduct (e.g., pedophilia, grooming, child pornography, etc.) between company employees and minors are without basis,” and that the accusations had been dismissed, including by the alleged victims.
However, the investigation did reveal “several isolated instances of workplace harassment and misconduct.” Acknowledging the rapid growth of the company from a YouTube startup to a larger entity, it was noted that essential policies and practices may have lagged, allowing some inappropriate conduct to occur. The company took swift action to address these incidents, including disciplinary measures against implicated individuals.
“I never groomed anyone,” Tyson stated back in July after stepping down. “The person involved in these accusations has vocally supported that they are false,” she referenced the handle @LavaGS on X.
In light of recent events, Tyson announced her decision to permanently step away from all things related to MrBeast and social media to focus on her family and mental health.