MrBeast, the most subscribed YouTube channel in the world, is losing its co-host Ava Kris Tyson after Tyson announced she'll "permanently step away" amid allegations she was grooming a child.
MrBeast – the global YouTube superstar known as Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson, a longtime friend of Tyson – sells MrBeast Burgers at several locations in Delaware.Tyson, who has denied the allegations, has her own special burger on the menu.
Tyson issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter) surrounding the controversy that's erupting over social media.
"I would like to apologize for any of my past behavior or comments if it hurt or offended anyone. 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," Tyson tweeted on Tuesday, July 23.
Ava Kris Tyson: 'I never groomed anyone'
Ava Kris Tyson, formerly known as Chris Tyson is a trans 28-year-old YouTuber who came out in 2023. She's most famous for co-hosting the YouTube channel MrBeast, which has the most subscribers on the platform with 305 million, according to Social Blade.
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Tyson has recently come under fire after several videos and clips popped up online alleging Tyson groomed a small content creator named Lava when they were a minor.
Tyson denies the accusations, as does Lava, who is now 20 years old (according to his bio on X).
"I never groomed anyone," Tyson tweeted on July 23. "The person who gets brought up in these accusations @LavaGS has vocally supported that they are false."
Who is Ava Kris Tyson and what did they do?
Allegations against Tyson emerged on June 13 when YouTuber Prism42 posted a 43-minute video claiming the internet celebrity was inappropriately talking to Lava online when Lava was about 12 or 13, and Tyson was about 19.
In Prism42's video he claims to reveal evidence of inappropriate interactions between a minor Lava and adult Tyson through Snapchat and Tweet screenshots.
This includes a Tweet dated Feb. 14, 2018 where Lava (about age 14 at the time) asks Tyson (who was around 21): "Chris, Does she know about your hentai addiction?"
Hentai is p*rnographic Japanese manga or anime.
Prism42 also shared a second screenshot of a tweet from Lava, then about age 15, who posted on Jan. 26, 2019, saying, "I get weird snap from Chris,'' followed by an explicit reference.
On Lava's Twitch page, which says he hasn't live streamed in three years, the content creator's "About Me" section says he met MrBeast when the superstar YouTuber's channel only had about 500 subs.
In 2023, Lava Tweeted a video of himself at 16 playing "Minecraft" in a MrBeast video and talking to MrBeast himself. Lava says the video has been seen over 68 million times.
Lava talks Ava Kris Tyson allegations
In response to a number of videos and posts accusing Tyson of grooming Lava, the small content creator stood up for Tyson on X.
"These videos are massive lies and twisting the truth. Ava never did anything wrong and just made a few edgy jokes. I was never exploited or taken advantage of," Lava tweeted July 22. "This situation takes away from children who are actively being exploited everyday online."
What is the MrBeast Burger?
The MrBeast Burger is a pop-up virtual restaurant with locations around the country, including in Delaware. It operates out of existing restaurant kitchens. This allows restaurateurs to add a new source of revenue without impacting the operation.
The menu offers everything from burgers to chicken tender sandwiches, plus crinkly fries and chocolate chip cookies. Impossible meat is available too.
Many of these fast-food burgers are for delivery only. The menu is mostly available only via apps and the food is delivered straight to your door, the website says.
Ava Kris Tyson has a MrBeast Burger on Delaware menu
MrBeast's friends, including Tyson, have sandwiches named after them. Tyson is named after the meal "Chris Style" that has two smashed beef patties with house seasoning, American cheese and bacon topped with crinkle fries on a toasted bun.
There's also the "Impossible Chris Style" where the beef patties are replaced with Impossible meat.
Tyson helped welcome thousands of fans alongside the MrBeast crew when they hosted the burger pop-up event Nov. 19, 2020, in Wilson, North Carolina, a few miles from MrBeast's hometown, for "the world's first free restaurant," according to the MrBeast Burger website.
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Where are MrBeast Burger locations in Delaware & Salisbury?
There are several MrBeast Burger locations between Kent and New Castle counties. While there aren't any locations in Sussex, there is one in Salisbury, Maryland.
- Talleyville: 307 Rocky Run Parkway
- Salisbury: 2318 North Salisbury Blvd.
For more information about the MrBeast Burger, visit mrbeastburger.com.
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporterAndre Lamaratalamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, atdelawareonline.com/newsletters.
