YouTube star Airrack organized prank in revenge for one MrBeast played on him
He recruited sheriff’s deputies in Pitt County, North Carolina, where MrBeast lives, to stage the fake arrest and book the YouTuber into a holding cell
But critics of the video, which garnered 3.2 million views in less than 24 hours, questioned whether it was a good use of police resources
YouTube megastar MrBeast was handcuffed and arrested by cops who pulled him over in his Tesla and then threw him in a holding cell without food or water – in a prank staged by a rival filmmaker.
The popular 25-year-old content creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, was subject to a revenge plot by fellow YouTube star Airrack over a prank that was played on him more than a year ago.
Airrack recruited deputies from Pitt County – in MrBeast’s home state of North Carolina – to stage the fake arrest and book the star into a holding cell.
The video gained 3.2 million views in less than 24 hours – but critics claimed it was a poor use of police resources. The Pitt County deputies involved in the video are understood to have been off-duty at the time and worked overtime for the stunt, while Airrack paid the sheriff’s office for their help.
Airrack also revealed in the ten-minute video he initially signed a contract with the New York City Police Department for the prank – but it was moved to North Carolina when the original plan fell through.
Pictured: MrBeast, a popular content creator also known as Jimmy Donaldson, 25, being handcuffed in a revenge prank organized by fellow YouTube star Airrack
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Pictured: MrBeast in a holding cell. He was refused food or water and made to wait for a long period
Pictured: MrBeast having his ‘mugshot’ taken. MrBeast was then told he was allowed to make his one phone call. However, police officers instead dialed Airrack’s number
Officers pulled over MrBeast in his Tesla then told him it was because of the car’s tinted windows. They then pretended to run a check on his license which revealed a warrant out for his arrest over ‘communicating threats’.
MrBeast can be seen exiting the vehicle and then being handcuffed by officers.
Initially, he seemed amused and he cooperated when an officer helped him into the back of his car and asked him if anyone had threatened him lately. The YouTuber then refused to speak.
Afterwards, he was put in a holding cell, refused food or water, and made to wait for a long period.
MrBeast was then told he was allowed to make his one phone call. Police officers dialed Airrack’s number for him.
He then revealed to MrBeast the arrest had in fact been a prank.
‘I got somebody here I was told that needs to talk to you,’ the cop can be heard saying down the phone. He then passed the phone over to MrBeast for the big reveal.
Airrack said: ‘Hey, do you need anything?’
MrBeast replied that he needed his lawyer.
Airrack responded: ‘James said he is talking to Alan [MrBeast’s lawyer] right now.’
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Pictured: US YouTube personality Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, arrives for the 36th Annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on March 4, 2023
Pictured: Airrack attends YouTube Brandcast 2023 at David Geffen Hall in New York on May 17, 2023
He then said that he had a message from his lawyer and told MrBeast to look into the police officer’s bodycam.
‘Alan says to look into the police officer’s body cam and say, “I just got got on Get Got,”‘ Airrack said. MrBeast later admitted in the clip that he thought the prank was real.
‘I was like, this might be a prank. I was like, this is a lot of resources for a prank. When I got in there I was like, Okay wait. Maybe this isn’t a prank,’ he said.
One viewer responded to the video to question why police can be hired to get involved in pranks. Referring to the NYPD’s apparent agreement to participate, they said: ‘Crazy the cops in new york have time to film youtube videos instead of stopping murders.’
Another added: ‘Nice! Tax payers money being put to work!’
It is understood the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office helped with the stunt as ‘contract work’ and the department was paid by Airrack. The deputies involved were off-duty at the time and their involvement was treated as overtime.
The sheriff’s office and the NYPD were approached for comment.