Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has divided fans with his latest YouTube video, which sees him collaborating with the platform's most popular star, MrBeast.
On Thursday, Thor star Hemsworth unveiled a video titled "I Put MrBeast To The Test In The Gym." In the almost six-minute video—filmed at Hemsworth's home in Byron Bay, Australia—the actor is seen working out with MrBeast and a group of friends as they see how many calories they can burn in a 30-minute circuit set.
"Now he's gonna quit movies and just make YouTube videos," MrBeast quipped of Hemsworth. "This is his transition out of Hollywood. He's a YouTuber now."
Hemsworth later told MrBeast—whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson—that "we're sort of looking to you for instructions and direction" on his YouTube channel, where he has been sharing videos in recent weeks.
The clip, which as of press time has garnered more than 250,000 views, has divided YouTube users, with many debating whether the video was appropriate, as MrBeast has been mired in controversy in recent months. Newsweek has contacted representatives of Hemsworth and MrBeast via email for comment.
MrBeast holds the record for the most subscribers on YouTube, with 315 million followers at the time of writing. While the popular YouTuber has been lauded online for his generosity and the quality of the content he has produced, in recent weeks he has been referred to as a "fraud" by some for allegedly staging content and accused of knowingly hiring a registered sex offender.
On August 1, MrBeast issued an apology after a video resurfaced online featuring the social media star using racial and homophobic slurs. He acknowledged the video in a statement provided to Variety by his representative.
"When Jimmy was a teenager he acted like many kids and used inappropriate language while trying to be funny," his rep said. "Over the years he has repeatedly apologized and has learned that increasing influence comes with increased responsibility to be more aware and more sensitive to the power of language.
"After making some bad jokes and other mistakes when he was younger, as an adult he has focused on engaging with the MrBeast community to work together on making a positive impact around the world."
However, a host of YouTube users expressed their disapproval of Hemsworth collaborating with MrBeast on his recently launched channel.
"Oh Chris... Thor! CHRIS!? What are you doing hanging out with that guy?!" read one comment. "Oh man... Not good company to keep, especially right now."
"Uhhhh can't say the timing here is any good Christopher," said one YouTube user, while another asked: "Chris, you haven't seen the allegations? I'm not saying he's guilty, but this is definitely not a good look, my guy."
Another chimed in: "Why put this out now with all the allegations again MrBeast? Does Chris not have a PR and Management team?"
A number of other YouTube users defended the collaboration, with one writing: "I don't know anyone who stopped liking and cheering for MrBeast [because] of [the allegations]. Let him do his stuff in peace."
"The drama was milked to oblivion, at this point no one really cares anymore," stated one supporter, while another enthused: "This is the collab we never knew we needed!"
Several viewers surmised that the clip was likely shot when MrBeast made a highly-publicized trip to Australia back in June, before the allegations surfaced.
Experts Weigh In
While the court of public opinion continues to mull over its verdict, public relations experts have shared their points of view with Newsweek.
Dr. Contrecia T. Tharpe, chief storyteller and strategist at FayeVaughn Creative, a marketing, branding, and communications agency, told Newsweek that while the collaboration has raised eyebrows, it is unlikely to cause any lasting damage.
"In today's media environment, it's crucial for brands to carefully consider collaborations, especially when one party is involved in controversy," Tharpe explained. "Chris Hemsworth's partnership with MrBeast raises eyebrows, but given Chris's solid and well-established brand, it's unlikely this collaboration will cause any lasting damage.
"His audience, who is already deeply invested in his persona, may overlook the controversy in favor of their positive association with him. However, a brand's strength plays a pivotal role in mitigating the potential fallout from aligning with a controversial figure. Chris's brand is solid enough to withstand temporary backlash, but for many, aligning with another brand during controversy can significantly tarnish their reputation. Brands need to be extremely resilient and trusted by their audiences to navigate such situations effectively."
"As for MrBeast, the collaboration with a figure like Chris Hemsworth could actually help him in terms of PR," Tharpe continued. "The positive association might buffer some of the negativity surrounding him, but much of the long-term effect depends on how both Chris and MrBeast address concerns from their audiences. Transparency and accountability will be key to maintaining trust in both cases.
"It's a reminder that aligning your brand with another, especially during sensitive times, requires careful consideration and a solid foundation to manage potential risks."
Mayra Medina, founder at Oui'd Marketing, shared a similar point of view, telling Newsweek: "Collaborating with MrBeast is unlikely to hurt Chris Hemsworth's reputation. Hemsworth's long-standing career in Hollywood and his solid fan base make him resilient to temporary controversies.
"While MrBeast faces scrutiny, audiences are growing tired of cancel culture and often move on quickly to the next story. Hemsworth's established credibility will likely outweigh any backlash, as people will view the partnership in light of his overall career rather than MrBeast's current issues.
"Today's fast-moving news cycle means the general public tends to move past controversies, especially when they don't directly involve the person in question."
However, PR crisis expert Emily Reynolds Bergh, founder of R Public Relations Firm, believes that the collaboration has come about "too soon," citing the lingering backlash singer Lizzo has faced after she was sued by some of her dancers in the summer of 2023.
"The dust has not settled," Bergh told Newsweek. "The MrBeast controversy is still too new... You need people to know you are sorry—you are quiet and you are not trying to deflect... People need to know he actually is looking at himself and his past associations and actions—not just saying he is."
Bergh concluded by sharing some advice: "My steps are always: stop, apologize, acknowledge what you did and what you can do better and make a plan and really stick to it, [for example] 'I will be reflecting on this and taking a break.. until we have a better plan.' People see when it is fluff. PR team for Mr. Beast—make the plan! And really make it be authentic."
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
