Animal rights group PETA has issued a blistering response after YouTube star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) seemingly asked volunteers to test the viral “100 men vs a gorilla” debate in real life—calling the stunt irresponsible and urging creators to leave animals out of their content. Indy100 reports
The “100 men vs a gorilla” scenario began as a thought experiment on social media, questioning if a group of unarmed humans could overpower a silverback. When Donaldson tweeted a mock‑up YouTube thumbnail asking, “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?” fans raced to comment, some even offering to sign up for the hypothetical showdown.
On April 28, PETA fired off a sharp rebuttal on X, writing: “100 men vs. a gorilla? Maybe try 100 reasons to leave animals out of your content instead. We love to have fun—just leave animals out of it.” Their tweet quickly racked up thousands of likes and retweets.
100 men vs. a gorilla? Maybe try 100 reasons to leave animals out of your content instead. We love to have fun—just leave animals out of it. https://x.com/peta/status/1916932465589162414— PETA (@peta) April 28, 2025
Donaldson’s original tweet, which he later deleted, showed him grinning beside a digitally inserted gorilla and read: “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?” Fans were quick to poke fun at the audacity of pitting humans against a 400‑lb primate, with one X user quipping, “That’s a hard pass from me.”
Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers? pic.twitter.com/p2iQvOWbYJ https://x.com/MrBeast/status/1650098765432109876— MrBeast (@MrBeast) April 27, 2025
Experts warn that silverbacks possess immense strength—up to 10 times that of an average man—and a bite force exceeding 1,300 PSI. Dr. Tara Stoinski of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund told Forbes that such a “contest” would amount to animal cruelty and human endangerment. “Gorillas are not props; they’re intelligent, sentient beings,” she said. Forbes explores the science behind the debate.
While MrBeast’s channel is known for generous giveaways and epic stunts, this latest idea crossed a line for many viewers. Comments flooded in calling for more “creative challenges that don’t involve harming animals,” and several sponsors are reportedly reviewing their partnerships.
As the online uproar continues, PETA is urging other influencers to learn from the backlash and develop content that entertains without exploiting wildlife. With over 100 million subscribers combined, creators have a powerful platform—and, PETA argues, a responsibility to use it wisely.
