MrBeast: Why has YouTuber faced criticism for blind surgery video? - BBC

The world's astir fashionable YouTuber has responded to disapproval pursuing a video of him backing aggregate life-changing operations.

In the post, MrBeast reveals that helium paid for sight-restoring cataract country for a 1000 people.

But the clip, which has implicit 71 cardinal views, has divided sentiment with immoderate calling it "charity porn".

The 24-year-old, existent sanction Jimmy Donaldson, tweeted successful effect to suggestions that the video was made purely for fiscal gain, saying the "average MrBeast video mislaid $1,500,000 past year".

He besides argued the video did "raise awareness".

MrBeast, who has 131 cardinal subscribers and precocious became the world's astir fashionable YouTuber, initially said helium did not expect truthful galore radical to presumption the video.

As much radical watched the video, determination were questions and concerns implicit the outgo and inaccessibility of oculus country successful immoderate parts of the world.

Some radical besides suggested affluent influencers should not beryllium used to effort and hole wider problems successful nine and healthcare.

But not everyone agrees, with immoderate praising for him raising awareness.

Andrew Hodgson, president of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, told BBC Newsbeat: "Anything that puts a spotlight connected specified treatable oculus conditions similar cataracts and provides backing for radical to acquisition country to reconstruct their show should beryllium welcomed.

"Why would anybody criticise this enactment and raising consciousness of it done movie and societal media channels?"

A spokeswoman for Sightsavers, an planetary charity, added they were "encouraged to spot the taxable of the planetary oculus wellness load being raised to a ample nationalist audience".

"Eye wellness is often a forgotten taxable erstwhile it comes to planetary wellness conversations, but oculus wellness equals opportunity, allowing children to larn and adults to earn," they added.

One Twitter idiosyncratic notes "the information it took foundation for these radical to get assistance highlights the problem".

But different idiosyncratic said "paying for 1000 unsighted radical to person oculus country is simply a bully happening to do, but utilizing that enactment of generosity into contented turns it into a tacky and tasteless enactment of foundation porn".

Dr Jeff Levinson, the surgeon who worked connected behalf of the societal media star, says successful the video "half of each the blindness successful the satellite is radical who request a 10 infinitesimal surgery".

MrBeast is known for videos featuring immense currency giveaways and prizes, arsenic good arsenic foundation work.

In 2021, helium launched a abstracted philanthropy-themed YouTube channel, which itself has much than 10 cardinal subscribers, and helium has a licensed foundation that functions arsenic a nutrient slope to provender communities crossed the US.

More than 2 cardinal radical are surviving with show nonaccomplishment successful the UK, of which 340,000 are registered arsenic unsighted oregon partially sighted, according to the NHS.

In the lawsuit that an individual's prime of beingness is impacted by their declining sight, the NHS provides appraisal and country if and whenever necessary.

The Royal College of Optometrists reported that successful the UK conscionable nether 44,000 cataract procedures were carried retired successful 1 period unsocial successful 2021.

Despite the mixed response, MrBeast's interaction connected those who received country is disposable successful the affectional absorption of those helium helped.

"I didn't deliberation I was ever going to spot again," said 1 diligent who had antecedently been a cashier, but had been forced to halt moving erstwhile his show nonaccomplishment became truthful advanced.

Listen to Newsbeat live astatine 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - oregon perceive backmost here.