Published On Aug 8, 2023
MrBeast lawsuit against Virtual Dining Concepts takes a turn as VDC files counter-suit for $100 million.
Top YouTuber, Jimmy Donaldson, commonly known as Mr Beast, is getting counter-sued in a legal dispute with Virtual Dining Concepts, the company behind his digital burger venture, Mr Beast Burger.
Virtual Dining Concepts and its subsidiary, Celebrity Virtual Dining, have initiated legal action against Mr Beast and his financial entity, Beast Investments.
This suit comes from allegations of breaching contractual commitments and deliberate destructive interference, with claims pointing towards damages exceeding $100 million.
This legal move was made public after Variety obtained the lawsuit documentation, filed at the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
This action is a response to Mr Beasts initial move to sue Virtual Dining Concepts and its parent entity.
He sought to nullify their joint restaurant venture, alleging, among other things, that the burgers it served were called “disgusting,” “revolting” and “inedible” and damaged his reputation.
VDC countered, stating the YouTube icon had violated his agreement, calling the YouTuber’s lawsuit “meritless” and “ill-advised.”
In response, the company has presented a lawsuit, emphasizing that “This case is about a social media celebrity who believes his fame means that his word does not matter, that the facts do not matter, and that he can renege and breach his contractual obligations without consequence,” the suit states.
The recent legal filing asserts that Mr. Beast’s actions have tarnished the image of both Mr Beast Burger and VDC.
And that this has compromised customer trust and strained ties with stakeholders, affecting the profitability of numerous global eateries.
The lawsuit cites evidence from Mr. Beast's tweets, where he expressed regret over the business partnership, acknowledging a poor decision on his part.
The document emphasizes that Mr. Beast must uphold his commitments and bear responsibility for any contractual oversights and related misdeeds.
In Mr. Beast's initial lawsuit against VDC, he criticized the company for sub-standard food offerings and noted that many of the virtual Mr Beast Burger outlets received lackluster reviews.
Despite significant revenue, Mr. Beast claimed he hadn't been compensated appropriately.
In a rebuttal, VDC highlighted the growth of the Mr Beast brand, attributing a portion of its success to the burger venture.
The Mr Beast Burger brand, launched in December 2020, expanded to 1,700 global outlets by the end of 2022.
Primarily, it operates digitally, collaborating with various kitchens and focusing exclusively on deliveries.
Robert Earl, the founder of Planet Hollywood, co-founded Virtual Dining Concepts.
The company specializes in digital kitchens and partners with delivery-only concepts.
Their collaborations include celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Mario Lopez.
With over 174 million subscribers on YouTube, Mr Beast has received significant recognition charitable donations and remarkable endeavors, but has also had his fair share of controversy as of late.
This legal standoff is just beginning and there will be much more to come.
I have never tried a Mr Beast burger and can't speak to it's quality, but like many of you I have heard of many bad experiences.
Have you ever had a Mr Beast burger? What was the experience like?
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