Fact Check: Examining Claims About MrBeast’s Reaction to Mamdani Election Victory

A viral social media post falsely claiming YouTube star MrBeast made disparaging comments about New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has been debunked after reaching millions of viewers online.

The fabricated post, which has amassed 3.8 million views, features what appears to be screenshots of MrBeast participating in an election livestream chat. In the alleged exchange, someone identified as MrBeast dismisses Mamdani, stating “bro he’s nothing special,” “every U.S. political speaks like that,” and most notably, “NYC is cooked.”

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, promptly refuted the claim on his official X account, writing: “Why is it that everyday now I wake up to a new fake tweet of something I never said.” When contacted by Newsweek, a spokesperson for the content creator declined further comment on the matter.

The post originated from an X account with the handle @TopMontagnard. A community note has since been attached to the post clarifying that the comments came from “a known impersonator in various YouTube livestreams pretending to be MrBeast. The channel is verified under a different username but has the same display name as MrBeast.”

Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic socialist, made history this week by becoming New York City’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor. His groundbreaking victory came after defeating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in a closely watched race that has elicited strong reactions across the political spectrum.

The fabricated controversy intersects with Mamdani’s milestone achievement, which represents a significant shift in the leadership of America’s largest city. His election signals growing diversity in high-profile political positions and reflects changing demographics in metropolitan power centers.

MrBeast, recognized as one of the world’s most influential content creators with 449 million YouTube subscribers, typically avoids partisan political commentary. Forbes recently named him the top content creator globally, reporting his earnings at $85 million this year. While known for his philanthropy and charitable initiatives, Donaldson generally maintains political neutrality in his public persona.

The content creator did not endorse any candidate in the 2024 presidential election and has previously expressed a nonpartisan approach to politics. In July 2024, he posted on X: “If I were president I wouldn’t care about party lines, I’d just always truly make the American people my #1 priority. For problems I’m ignorant in I’d have experts from the left and right advise me on them and try to find the middle ground that’s best for America.”

The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of misinformation on social media platforms, particularly involving high-profile figures. Impersonation of celebrities and public figures remains a persistent problem despite verification systems intended to help users identify authentic accounts.

For Donaldson, this represents another in a series of false attributions he has had to address publicly. As one of the most recognized online personalities worldwide, his name carries significant influence, making him a frequent target for fabricated statements and content.

This case serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in today’s digital landscape, especially when it involves the intersection of popular culture and politics. With elections and political transitions often serving as flashpoints for divisive content, the viral nature of such false claims demonstrates the importance of verification before sharing or believing information encountered on social media.