MrBeast, the world’s most popular YouTuber, came under fire after announcing in a video that he had funded cataract surgeries to restore sight to 1,000 people.
The 24-year-old YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, responded via Twitter to suggestions that the video was made solely for profit. According to him, MrBeast videos lost an average of $1.5 million last year.
He also argued that the video “generated awareness”.
MrBeast, who recently became the world’s most popular YouTuber with a channel with 131 million subscribers, said he initially didn’t expect so many people to watch the video.
As the number of views increased, questions and concerns arose about the cost and lack of access to eye surgeries in some parts of the world.
Some people have also suggested that wealthy influencers shouldn’t be used to try to solve broader societal and healthcare problems.
But not everyone agreed with the criticism – he also received praise for the initiative.
“Anything that highlights treatable eye conditions such as cataracts and provides funding for people to undergo surgery to restore their sight should be welcome,” said Andrew Hodgson, president of the UK’s National Federation of the Blind. , to BBC Newsbeat.
A spokeswoman for Sightsavers, an international charity, said they were “excited to see eye health being brought to a wider audience”.
One Twitter user noted that “the fact that these people needed charity to get help highlights the problem”.
Another said, “Paying 1,000 blind people to undergo eye surgery is cool, but using that act of generosity in content turns it into an inelegant and tasteless act of charity pornography.”
Surgeon Jeff Levinson, who worked for MrBeast, says in the video that half of all the blind people in the world are people who need a 10-minute surgery.
The youtuber is known for videos with great offers and cash prizes, as well as charity work.
Despite the mixed reaction, the impact of MrBeast’s initiative on those who underwent surgery is visible.
“I thought I’d never see it again,” said a patient who worked as a cashier but was forced to stop working when his vision loss became advanced.
-This text was originally published here.
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