Internet fame is a weird, chaotic beast. One day you’re known for giving away a private island or burying yourself alive for fifty hours, and the next, millions of people are dissecting your personal life under a digital microscope. Jimmy Donaldson, the man the world knows as MrBeast, has lived this reality for over a decade. He’s built an empire on spectacles, but the one thing he hasn't turned into a high-production challenge is his own orientation. Yet, the question "is MrBeast gay" continues to trend across TikTok, X, and Google search bars with relentless frequency.
People want answers. Usually, they want them fast.
The short, factual answer is no. MrBeast has never identified as gay. Throughout his public career, which stretches back to his teen years in North Carolina, Jimmy has only been publicly linked to women in romantic capacities. But in the age of "clout" and constant speculation, a simple fact often isn't enough to stop the rumor mill from churning. Fans and critics alike often mistake his support for the LGBTQ+ community, or the personal lives of his close friends, as a reflection of his own identity. It’s a classic case of the internet failing to see the line between being an ally and being the subject of the conversation itself.
Why the internet keeps asking if MrBeast is gay
Rumors don't just spawn from thin air; they usually have a catalyst. In Jimmy’s case, the speculation reached a fever pitch not because of anything he did, but because of the people around him. You’ve probably seen the comments. When Kris Tyson, a longtime member of the MrBeast crew and Jimmy’s childhood best friend, came out as transgender and began hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the internet lost its collective mind.
It was a massive moment for the channel.
Because Jimmy stood firmly by Kris, a vocal segment of the internet began to project. There’s this weird, often toxic logic on social media that says if you support someone in the LGBTQ+ community, you must be part of it yourself. Jimmy didn't flinch. He defended Kris against a wave of transphobia, stating clearly that Kris is his friend and that’s that. This loyalty, while admirable, became fuel for the "is MrBeast gay" fire. People started digging through old videos, looking for "signs" that weren't there, trying to find some hidden narrative in his body language or his lack of a "traditional" hyper-masculine persona.
It’s kind of exhausting to watch.
Beyond the Kris Tyson situation, there’s the general nature of Jimmy’s lifestyle. He is a self-confessed workaholic. He has famously stated in interviews—including his lengthy sit-down with Joe Rogan and his appearances on the Lex Fridman Podcast—that he spends nearly every waking hour thinking about YouTube. He lives in his office. He eats, sleeps, and breathes retention rates and thumbnail psychology. When a celebrity doesn't have a high-profile, "standard" dating life that they flaunt on Instagram every day, the internet fills in the blanks. If he’s not posting "couple goals" content, some assume there must be a secret he’s hiding.
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Jimmy Donaldson’s dating history and public relationships
To get the full picture, you have to look at who Jimmy has actually dated. For a long time, the most prominent figure in his personal life was Maddy Spidell. They started dating in 2019. Maddy didn't just appear out of nowhere; she was a social media presence in her own right, and their relationship was relatively public, though Jimmy always seemed a bit awkward about it. He’s a guy who is comfortable being chased by a tank, but seemingly less comfortable talking about his feelings on camera.
They eventually broke up in 2022. It was quiet. No drama. No "exposed" videos. Just two people moving on.
After that, Jimmy began dating Thea Booysen. Thea is a South African Twitch streamer and author. Their meeting sounds like something out of a modern rom-com: they met while Jimmy was in South Africa, and they bonded over—of all things—theology and psychology. Thea has even spoken publicly about how Jimmy "tested" her during their first few meetings to see if she was actually interested in him or just the fame. She passed the vibe check. They’ve been together for a significant amount of time now, and she frequently appears in the background of his life, traveling with the crew and supporting the brand.
Does a girlfriend prove anything?
In the eyes of some internet skeptics, having a girlfriend is just "cover." That’s a pretty cynical way to look at human relationships. There is zero evidence to suggest Jimmy’s relationships have been anything other than genuine. He’s a 20-something guy trying to run a multi-billion dollar enterprise; he probably doesn't have the bandwidth to maintain a fake relationship just to throw people off the scent of his sexuality.
Honestly, the obsession with his orientation says more about the audience than it does about him. We live in a culture that demands total access to a creator's soul. When they don't give it, we try to take it by speculating.
The role of the "MrBeast Crew" in the conversation
The dynamic of the Beast gang is central to why these questions keep popping up. You have a group of guys who have known each other since they were nobodies in Greenville. They are touchy, they joke around, and they have the kind of shorthand that only comes from years of shared trauma—like being stuck in a grocery store for 24 hours or building a house out of Lego.
- Karl Jacobs: Karl joined the crew later but became a fan favorite instantly. He has a very "soft" aesthetic compared to the older members. He paints his nails. He likes colorful clothes. Because he doesn't fit the mold of a "bro-y" gamer, he’s been the target of similar rumors. Jimmy’s close friendship with Karl is often cited by theorists as "proof" of something more, but again, it’s just a friendship.
- Chandler Hallow: Chandler is the "normal" one who eventually got married. His presence usually grounds the group in a more traditional sense, but even he hasn't escaped the weird fan-fictions that permeate the corners of the internet.
- Nolan Galley: Similar to the others, Nolan’s personal life is mostly kept under wraps, which leads to the same cycle of questioning.
When you look at the group as a whole, you see a bunch of young men who are comfortable with each other. In a more rigid, older version of masculinity, that might look "gay" to some people. In 2026, it just looks like a healthy friendship. The fact that Jimmy allows his friends to be exactly who they are—whether that’s a trans woman like Kris or a fashion-forward guy like Karl—is a testament to his character, not a hidden clue about his own bedroom preferences.
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The impact of the rumors on the MrBeast brand
Does it even matter? From a business perspective, the question of whether MrBeast is gay carries some weight, mostly because of his massive global reach. MrBeast is huge in markets that are not exactly LGBTQ-friendly. If he were to come out, or if the rumors were true, it could potentially jeopardize his standing in certain regions.
But Jimmy has always played it down the middle. He isn't a political firebrand. He isn't a culture warrior. He’s a guy who wants to make the best videos on the planet. He’s stated repeatedly that his goal is to help as many people as possible through Beast Philanthropy. Whether he’s curing blindness or building wells in Africa, the mission is universal.
The rumors are a distraction. Jimmy knows this. He rarely addresses them directly because responding to every TikTok theory is a losing game. It’s like playing Whac-A-Mole with a million hammers. Instead, he focuses on the work. He focuses on the next big giveaway. He focuses on Feastables.
Addressing the "Queer Coding" accusations
Some online "experts" love to use the term "queer coding." They claim that Jimmy’s fashion choices or his lack of aggressive heterosexuality in his videos is a sign. This is a bit of a reach. Jimmy wears t-shirts and hoodies. He looks like a guy who rolled out of bed and realized he had a $5 million video to shoot. There is no secret code. There is no hidden language.
Sometimes a guy is just a guy.
We also have to consider the age of his audience. A huge portion of MrBeast fans are kids and teenagers. This demographic is growing up in a world where sexuality is much more fluid and discussed more openly than it was for previous generations. To a 12-year-old in 2026, asking if someone is gay isn't necessarily an insult or a deep investigation—it’s just a question. But the internet takes that curiosity and amplifies it into a full-blown narrative.
Factual takeaways and the reality of the situation
If we look at the evidence objectively, there is a clear pattern.
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- Public Relationships: Every confirmed romantic partner Jimmy Donaldson has had has been female.
- Self-Identification: Jimmy has never identified as gay, bisexual, or anything other than straight.
- Friendships vs. Identity: His support for Kris Tyson and other LGBTQ+ individuals is a matter of friendship and allyship, not a personal coming-out.
- Work Ethic: His life is overwhelmingly dominated by his career, leaving little room for the "secret life" many theorists imagine.
The reality is that MrBeast is probably exactly who he appears to be: a hyper-focused, slightly socially awkward, incredibly wealthy philanthropist who loves YouTube more than almost anything else.
Navigating the misinformation
If you’re someone who spent hours scrolling through "MrBeast Gay Proof" videos, it’s worth stepping back. The internet is built on engagement. Theories about a creator’s sexuality get clicks. They get comments. They get shared. The people making those videos often don't care if they're right; they just care that you watched.
When searching for information on celebrities, it’s vital to stick to primary sources. What has the person actually said? What is their documented history? In Jimmy’s case, the record is pretty straightforward. Everything else is just noise generated by a platform that rewards speculation over boring, simple truths.
How to handle the rumors moving forward
Stop looking for "clues" in the background of a 10-minute video about a chocolate factory. It’s a waste of mental energy. If Jimmy Donaldson ever had something he wanted to share about his personal life, he has the biggest megaphone in history to do it. Until he does, assuming anything other than what he’s told us is just fan-fiction.
The best way to engage with MrBeast content is to enjoy it for what it is: high-octane entertainment designed to make you say "wow." Whether he’s giving away a billion dollars or just hanging out with his friends, his personal life is his own.
Next Steps for the Curious Fan:
- Verify Sources: If you see a "breaking news" clip on TikTok about Jimmy coming out, check his official X (Twitter) or YouTube channel. If it’s not there, it’s fake.
- Support the Message: Focus on the philanthropy. Whether Jimmy is straight, gay, or anything else, the work he does with Beast Philanthropy is objectively positive.
- Respect Privacy: Understand that even though he’s the most famous creator on Earth, he’s still a human being entitled to a private life that isn't content for the masses.
- Watch the Interviews: If you want to understand Jimmy's headspace, watch his long-form interviews with Lex Fridman or Colin and Samir. They provide a much deeper look at his personality than any "theory" video ever could.