Published: 8:17 am EDT, May 25, 2023 | Updated: 3:40 p.m. EDT, May 25, 2023
YouTube megastar MrBeast was handcuffed and arrested by cops who stopped him in his Tesla and then threw him into a holding cell without food or water in a prank orchestrated by a rival filmmaker.
The popular 25-year-old content creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, was the subject of a revenge plot by fellow YouTuber Airrack over a prank played on him more than a year ago.
Airrack recruited Pitt County officers – in MrBeast’s home state of North Carolina – to stage the fake arrest and put the star in a holding cell.
The video garnered 3.2 million views in less than 24 hours – but critics claimed it was a poor use of police resources. It is understood that the Pitt County officers involved in the video were off duty at the time and were working overtime on the stunt while Airrack paid the sheriff’s office for their help.
Airrack also reveals in the 10-minute video that he originally signed a contract with the New York City Police Department for the prank – but it was moved to North Carolina when the original plan fell through.
Pictured: MrBeast, a popular content creator, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, 25, is handcuffed as part of a revenge prank orchestrated by his YouTube star Airrack
Pictured: MrBeast in a holding cell. He was denied food and water and had to wait a long time.
Pictured: MrBeast has his “mug shot” taken. MrBeast was then told he was allowed to make his only call. Instead, officers dialed Airrack’s number
The officers stopped MrBeast in his Tesla and told him so For him it was the tinted windows of the car. They then pretended to carry out a check on his driver’s license, which revealed that he had an arrest warrant for “transmitting threats”.
MrBeast is seen exiting the vehicle and then being handcuffed by officers.
At first he seemed amused and cooperated when an officer helped him to the back of his car and asked if anyone had threatened him recently. The YouTuber then refused to speak.
After that, he was put in a detention cell, denied food and water, and made to wait for a long time.
MrBeast was then told he was allowed to make his only call. Instead, officers dialed Airrack’s number.
He then revealed to MrBeast that the arrest was actually a prank.
“I’ve been told there’s someone here who needs to talk to you,” the police officer is heard saying over the phone. He then handed the phone over to MrBeast for the big reveal.
Airrack said, “Hey, do you need anything?” MrBeast replied that he needed his attorney.
Airrack replied, “James said he was talking to Alan.” [MrBeast’s lawyer] at the moment.’
American YouTube personality Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast arrives at the 36th annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater on March 4, 2023 in Los Angeles, California
Airrack attends YouTube Brandcast 2023 on May 17, 2023 at David Geffen Hall in New York
He then said he had a message from his “Alan” and prompted MrBeast to look into the officer’s bodycam.
“Alan says to look into the officer’s body cam and say, ‘I just got on ‘Get Got,’” Airrack said. MrBeast later admitted in the clip that he thought the prank was real.
“I thought this might be a prank.” I thought that’s a lot of resources for a prank. When I got there, I thought, okay, wait. Maybe it’s not a prank, he said.
A viewer responded to the video and questioned why the police could be hired to prank. Referring to the NYPD’s apparent approval of participation, they said, “Crazy that New York cops have time to shoot YouTube videos instead of stopping homicides.”
Another added: “Nice! The taxpayers’ money is used!’
The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office is believed to have helped with the stunt as “contract work” and the department was paid by Airrack. The deputies involved were off duty at the time and their involvement was treated as overtime.
The sheriff’s office has been asked for comment. The NYPD was contacted for comment.
