MrBeast responds to criticism after paying for surgery to cure 1,000 blind people

GEAR CHECK: Our readers don't just follow the news - they stay ready. Featured gear from this story is below.

Daniel Sharp

MrBeast, the most followed YouTuber with over 130 million subscribers, posted a video where he paid for 1,000 people to receive life-changing eye surgery. In the video, a surgeon explains how half of the people living with blindness only need a 10-minute surgery to be cured. The post quickly went viral, receiving 59 million views in just three days.

MrBeast, the most followed YouTuber with over 130 million subscribers, posted a video where he paid for 1,000 people to receive life-changing eye surgery. In the video, a surgeon explains how half of the people living with blindness only need a 10-minute surgery to be cured. The post quickly went viral, receiving 59 million views in just three days. 

However, the creator received backlash from some saying the generous act was merely “for clout.” MrBeast quickly responded with a tweet aimed directly at the critics.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Twitter - Rich people should help others with their money<br><br>Me - Okay, I’ll use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny.<br><br>Twitter - MrBeast bad</p>&mdash; MrBeast (@MrBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1620195967008907264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

MrBeast is known for his lavish YouTube videos including one where he stayed in a $1 million-a-night hotel. His videos also typically feature eclectic cash prize games, like winning $500,000 for being the “last man standing in a circle.”

However his latest video took a more serious tone, and documented the technology and procedure the patients were undergoing. Although the surgery is fairly simple, many afflicted people lack access to this operation due to financial constraints. The cost of the surgery can vary, but it can range between $3,000 and $5,000 per eye.

In the video, MrBeast also gave several of the patients large cash sums. Another received $50,000 in college tuition. He also gave a brand-new Tesla to a man who has never driven before. The patients are said to have come from “all over the world.” Watch the full video below:

<iframe width="723" height="407" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJ2ifmkGGus" title="1,000 Blind People See For The First Time" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

MrBeast also criticized politicians by saying, “I don’t understand why curable blindness is a thing. Why don’t governments step in and help? Even if you’re thinking purely from a financial standpoint it’s hard to see how they don’t roi on taxes from people being able to work again.”

 

You may also like

Blog

A program designed to help struggling veterans keep their homes was shut down. An investigation found that more than 15,000 veterans later saw their monthly mortgage payments rise by at least $150.
A cyberattack disrupted ambulance traffic and canceled medical appointments at a New Mexico hospital system. Then a group claiming responsibility apologized and offered affected patients up to $2,500 each.
Nell “Mickey” Bright flew B-25 bombers, towed targets for live-fire training and helped support the U.S. war effort. After World War II, airlines laughed off her attempts to become a commercial pilot.
The Iran war disrupted global energy supplies and drove prices higher. For Shell, it also helped deliver $10.8 billion in quarterly profit.
Three customers suffered chemical burns after margaritas at a North Carolina Chili’s were prepared with a cleaning chemical that had been mistaken for a bar ingredient. Two employees later reported similar symptoms after tasting the substance.

Like This Story? Check Out What Our Community Is Buying

Our best sellers are designed for real-world use - not hype.

View Best Sellers