Deepfake MrBeast attempts to rip off fans

Olivia Richman Published 05/10/2023

A lot of fans are skeptical after Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson recently claimed a giveaway he was doing was actually a deepfake scam.

Deepfake is nothing new in the online world. There are a lot of deepfake videos of celebrities and streamers, including entire TikTok accounts dedicated to the trend. While some deepfake is just used to be creative and wholesome, others have taken it too far.

Recently, MrBeast claimed that deepfake was becoming a problem after he fell victim to a scam.

MrBeast condemns AI scammer

Deepfake videos have become so good that many people believe they’re real.

Earlier this week, a video surfaced of MrBeast claiming to give away 10,000 iPhone 15s for just $2. At the end of the video, MrBeast points to a link where fans can claim their iPhone.

MrBeast called it a “deepfake scam ad” on Twitter.

“Are social media platforms ready to handle the rise of AI deepfakes? This is a serious problem,” MrBeast demanded.

While MrBeast seemed quite passionate about the dangers of deepfake technology being used to scam fans, some believed that MrBeast was lying. A few people on social media claimed that MrBeast simply didn’t want to give away the iPhones and was going back on his word by claiming it was an ad.

“How is this account verified then?” one fan asked.

Others, however, pointed out how fake the deepfake MrBeast looked and said that anyone who gave the $2 deserved to lose it for believing it.

The debate has continued, with some people even questioning if we should trust AI in general. Many content creators have started using AI to respond to chat messages or help with videos.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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