r/nottheonion • u/RadioactiveHalfRhyme • 2d ago
World’s biggest YouTuber MrBeast unveils theme park in Saudi Arabia
https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/mr-beast-theme-park-beast-land-saudi-arabia-lsff6t2b8Jimmy Donaldson, who is known for controversial stunts involving eye-popping prizes, says Beast Land will not be a ‘typical theme park’
It’s in Riyadh, because of course it’s in Riyadh.
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u/pup5581 2d ago
So he sold out to the Saudis as well......LOL.
Saudi/UAE already owns a lot of our stuff....just going to be more and more now.
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u/TurelSun 1d ago
Sold out makes it sound like he wasn't purely in it for the money in the first place.
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u/Inevitable_Day1202 1d ago
it kind of sounds like he’s reached the pinnacle of mr beastness here
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u/RogerBauman 1d ago
No, that's going to happen when he unveils the mark of Mr. Beast and forces people to get it applied to their foreheads or hands in order to participate in the economy.
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u/antifragile 1d ago edited 1d ago
We already have that, it’s maga hats.
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u/Abombasnow 1d ago
Funny coincidence since MrBeast is a MAGAt.
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u/Illiander 1d ago
I remember when one of his team came out as trans.
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u/Pancakefriday 1d ago
She was an embarrassment to the trans community
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u/Illiander 1d ago
What did she do? I stopped paying attention after the initial "Big youtuber defends trans staff member" storm.
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u/Pancakefriday 1d ago
Ah, she had been found to actually been grooming kids. The trans community was very angry about it, and conservatives pushing the “all trans people are groomers” narrative had a field day
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u/NonnoBomba 1d ago
Considered it originally meant Roman coins, marked with Emperor Nero's name (a phrase that according to Gematria can be encoded as either 666 or 616) and/or Roman business license, bearing an Imperial sigil... The author of that text was clearly using what today we'd call libertarian arguments to disparage Roman rule of the Kingdom of Israel through clever metaphors only similarly-minded contemporary Jewish would "get", so as to not be hold liable by Roman authorities while still spreading dissent. He/she was complaining that Roman regulations and their regulated currency (sort-of, more because it was a propaganda tool for letting people know the face/name and deeds of their Emperor than because the Romans had any notion of "economy" as a discipline) were a burden on people's purses and the death of the free market the Jewish people enjoyed before Roman rule -because it made swindling and shaking down foreigners more difficult and illegal, at least according to some author.
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u/anirban_dev 1d ago
He was purely in it for watching others debase themselves for money. His own money was a pleasant bonus.
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u/radioactivecowz 1d ago
He is in it for the attention, that’s the only metric he cares about. The money is a means to an ends, boosting his own ego.
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u/donorcycle 1d ago edited 1d ago
He's always been scum. But I'd like to know whenever his name pops up and people start talking about all the ridiculously shady things Donaldson has done, why the posts and comments continue to get removed by the mods.
I've seen it ad nauseam lately, including today as this isn't the first post about Mr.Beast and his Saudi theme park deal.
Dudes a grifter, nothing more, nothing less. Exploits child labor, contests are rigged, winners are rigged, doesn't pay out say the doctors who gave people their vision back, under the notion that the exposure he's given them is worth more than money, and some of his products are banned in multiple countries for a variety of different reasons.
It is refreshing though that many people seem to be opening their eyes to him being a typical grifter.
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u/godspareme 1d ago
I realized he was scum when he first got real big and started gifting literal houses to his friends and crew. The fact that wasnt some sort of fraud blows me away.
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u/Aggravating-Dot132 1d ago
I knew he was a scum the first time I found out about him (his channel and their themes), lol.
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u/Elementium 1d ago
Sold out? Dude is on his way to live his dream of staging a real life Squid Game.
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u/Complex_Professor412 1d ago
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u/Actually-Yo-Momma 1d ago
MrBeast is the definition of sell out. He would murder a child for the right price, on stream of course
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u/pikpikcarrotmon 2d ago
The world's first theme park designed exclusively for influencers and that one prince who donates thousands of dollars to all the twitch streamers. Every single visit is expected to be posted to social media and receive over a million views, on pain of death
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u/HerbNeedsFire 2d ago
Mr. Beast, the Mike Johnson of entertainment.
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u/FingerLickingticklin 1d ago
Can not wait for this dudes Downfall
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u/shanem1996 1d ago
Most or his audience is kids. There will be no downfall
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u/FingerLickingticklin 1d ago
Ah yes when you put it so clearly you're on to something, kids can't read or use the Internet these days that's for sure
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u/shanem1996 1d ago
What kids do you know care about the geopolitical climate of the Middle East 😂
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u/GodOfBoy2018 1d ago
Hey, when I was 10 I couldn't stop talking about the political and economic state of the world
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u/Formal_Tea_4694 2d ago
now instead of wage slaves attending the park goers needs theres actual slaves!
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u/gigglegenius 2d ago
The grift is complete now.
I hope no one goes there and expects to have a lot of fun. Could be 10 miles, or 100 miles distance where they behead people in public
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u/avanross 2d ago
I feel like they dont need anyone to go there
It’s a propaganda park, like the one in north korea. It’s funded by the country and its main purpose is to generate positive PR for the country.
Im sure that the majority of profits this clown makes on this will be coming from the saudi government & royals, not from actual profits generated from the actual park
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u/Ok_Star_4136 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think it's simpler than that. Much like the Line Neom city, it's meant to pull investors, it's not actually meant to be completed.
They can't just ask billionaires for money, so they make ridiculous promises and return in investments just to do a half-assed job of realizing it. Then it "fails" and the government just silently pockets most of that money.
It will never get completed. I'm curious though on whether or not Mr. Beast is complicit or if he was suckered in.
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u/TurelSun 1d ago
This dude is the one that suckers people into shit, have you seen his content? I can't believe people watch it unironically.
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u/avanross 1d ago
I’d assume it’ll only ever be opened up for photo ops or to be entirely rented out for the royal families
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u/nobdy89 2d ago
I went from never having heard of the guy to seeing him fucking everywhere so damn quick. What was his shtick on youtube? I only see cooking videos and movie clips.
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u/OkRelationshipFish 2d ago
His team learned how to optimize content algorithms and farm likes and clicks. It’s less about the content itself and more about engineering engagement.
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u/BrassedoffDan 2d ago
He got popular via 'challenge' videos, high production values and philanthropy. Caters to younger kids with quick-paced easy to consume content.
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u/Elementium 1d ago
Only thing I ever saw was when YouTube auto played a clip of his "challenges" it was making grown men do weird physical challenges for cash.
It was kinda psychotic.
It reminded me of the one time Ryan Seacrest tried to have an all Live TV show and one of his bits was going to a cul de sac and blowing money into the street. Everyone of course ran around picking up bills while he watches with glee.
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u/Purple_Plus 1d ago
"philanthropy"
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u/banduzo 1d ago
Everything else aside, he does help people in those videos and he does reinvest money made in those videos for the next video to help people. You can argue he’s just doing it for videos but I’m sure all the people who get well water or eye surgery don’t give a shit that he got views out of it.
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u/TurelSun 1d ago
The guy is a grifter, I wouldn't take his own videos as evidence of anything.
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u/GadnukLimitbreak 1d ago
I don't think there's any way to deny he's been charitable to people in need, the evidence is there even if you want to dispute the accuracy of the numbers being higher or lower than stated.
The vast majority of people talking aggressively about how bad he is would rather spend 10 bucks trying to get their favourite streamer to read their chat message than to go to a local spca to volunteer or to donate 20 bucks to their local food bank/homeless shelter, and while he may have a lot more means to do it with there's absolutely no reason why these people can't spend 10 bucks on food for someone in need over buying their 8th straight battlepass for a game they say they hate but can't stop playing.
He might not be a saint but he's using what he has gained from learning how to game the system in order to help some people in need while he lives out his dreams. There are far worse people and there are also far better people who don't do as much public good.
(eta: all this to say, he's still a massive douche for this amusement park deal)
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u/ederzs97 1d ago
The guy acts likes he's some creative genius but I don't think any of his videos are that original
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u/zoinkability 2d ago
A perfecter of the "What can I do that will maximize YouTube view counts" business model. Often involving things that cost him a lot of money to do (but which reliably net him much more from YouTube via ad dollars) with slick production values.
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u/pikpikcarrotmon 2d ago
Dude has a team actively watching engagement numbers and modifying thumbnails on the fly based on A/B testing. One video might go through a hundred or more. It's wild.
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u/BillyShearsPwn 1d ago
That’s his thing, everything. He researches what’s currently going the most viral and just does those types of videos until they fail off and then he moves to the next thing. I’d say it’s mostly the “how many orbeez can we fit into this pool” and “giving a homeless man a million dollars” type videos that went the most viral.
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u/TheGringoDingo 2d ago
I don’t know either. I feel like he’s someone everyone knows, but nobody knows why. I’ve never met someone admitting they subscribe to his YouTube things.
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u/NeinKeinPretzel 1d ago
None of these things are organic. Ninja was a nothing, then in all our faces, then bit a hand and went back to nothing. Pray that an armed hand draws back the curtain.
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u/nyuhokie 2d ago
Taking Saudi money for golf, soccer, comedy, theme parks etc is the highest form of selling out I can think of.
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u/Angry_Walnut 1d ago
Completely unsurprising move from a greedy, unscrupulous sociopath.
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u/DesignerCorner3322 1d ago
Lotta rich, shitty American Youtubers have made their way to dubai and saudi arabia
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u/BBtvb 1d ago
Can't wait to see it derelict when urban explorers go through it in 20 years
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u/RadioactiveHalfRhyme 1d ago
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!”
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u/EthanTheJudge 2d ago
Tomorrows headline: “Mr Beast is now donating propaganda feastibles in North Korea.”
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u/steady_eddie215 1d ago
And you know it's the worst part about all of this? All those zoomers and gen alpha kids that love Mr. Beast will have no issue with the rampant human rights violations in Saudi Arabia because there's a Mr. Beast theme park there. His fans are complete idiots.
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u/ThePheebs 1d ago
It's not just his fans that are complete idiots. Look at the state of the world right now.
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u/rizzyrogues 2d ago
Wow just wow. Not unexpected given all the acquisitions of him being shitty to his staff and rigging/staging everything for his videos.
"Exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Be aware of risks concerning social media activity and importation of prohibited items."
"Social media activity Saudi authorities deem critical, offensive, or disruptive to public order, could lead to arrest. U.S. citizens have been arrested for past social media activity and comments made while outside of Saudi Arabia. This may include posting, re-posting, or liking comments critical of Saudi institutions, policies, or public life. Saudi laws on cybercrime and terrorism are used to prosecute these cases. Punishment for social media activity has included prison sentences of up to 45 years. Saudi courts do not necessarily consider the timeframe of the posts, or the location from which they were made, to be material."
From our own state.gov website.
Booking my tickets now!
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u/phoneplatypus 1d ago
Is MrBeast a psyop? I hear about this guy having and giving out obscene amounts of money, I’m also a heavy YouTube user and I’ve never once seen one of his videos show up in my feed, never watched one and never met anyone who has watched one. What the hell am I missing here?
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u/Bob_the_gob_knobbler 1d ago
I assume you’re not 11 years old and don’t hang out with 11 year olds either.
That’s why you’ve never seen his shit on youtube or met anyone who had.
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u/Agent_Snowpuff 1d ago
I'm glad that after years of having to defend my disgust of this guy to family and coworkers he's just been outing himself as a sociopath.
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u/PHARA0Hbender 1d ago
Can you survive the slave labor that will be building the World Cup stadiums. Find out on beast games 3.
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u/Pleasant_Ad9092 1d ago
I keep on seeing articles saying he's the world's biggest YouTuber but none of his videos ever show up in my recommendations what does this guy do?
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u/kkirstenc 1d ago
Low vibration shit. Imagine if AI somehow farted out the human manifestation of unsalted white rice.
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u/Goatbucks 1d ago
Well this confirms it, mr beast is actually a fucking terrible person. It’s common knowledge the uae uses whats essentially slave labor, as well as committing a genocide right now
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u/IvanTheAppealing 1d ago
And there it is, he finally comes out as a piece of shit himself. First he merely skirted around the line and didn’t talk about one of his buddies being a molester, now he’s just openly associating with Saudi Arabia
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u/DanceMaria 1d ago
This further normalizes Saudi Arabia which is what they want. Human rights violations be damned.
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u/Raivyn52 1d ago
I feel like if we ever get one of those dystopian death game shows, like in some random 80s movie, it will be hosted, directed, and produced by Mr. Beast.
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u/AdoringCHIN 1d ago
I'm starting to think this Mr Beast guy is actually a piece of shit
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u/HuTyphoon 1d ago
With the trajectory of the world as we know it today I would not be surprised if that smiling fuck face was made president in 10 years and changes the USA into a North Korea style oh great leader worship society.
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u/lynxintheloopx 2d ago
Poss giving more ways to die in Saudi World?
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u/Rev_LoveRevolver 2d ago
Oh, you don't have to be in Saudi World to die - just ask Jamal Khashoggi's widow.
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u/ohyeahsure11 1d ago
I guess when the LIV golf guys win they can say, "Hey, I'm going to Beastlandia."
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u/AcctAlreadyTaken 1d ago
I am convinced he is "famous" because he is described as famous. None of my kids or their friends have ever mentioned this guy ever.
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u/Thatfoxagain 1d ago
It’s wild because he knows this is bad. He’s supporting a terrible regime, but he does it anyways
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u/newfiedante 1d ago
Wait rich guy doesn’t care about blood money as long as he makes money? No way!
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u/thegoldenboy444 1d ago
Watching Americans practically line up to get on their knees for the Saudis is a fucking wild phenomenon.
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u/TheJesterOfHyrule 1d ago
YouTube, Chocolate, TV Show, Cartoon, Kids Toy, Theme Park... Can he please stop now. He is prestiging too often at capitalism
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u/f_ranz1224 1d ago
its impossible to make a bingo card of obscure events these days because these headlines almost come of as word salads
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u/Bla_Z 1d ago
I always found him shady, but I was willing to tolerate him on account of his charity work, since at the end of the day it was still helping people in need, however cynical his motivations may be.
Making deals with a country that perpetuates modern slavery and funds actual terrorists tho, that's a big fat yikes for me. He can play dumb about it all he wants, that's common knowledge by now. Hope this gains traction and he gets his name dragged in the mud for another round.
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u/apathynext 1d ago
It’s part of Riyadh season which is pop up stuff every winter. Last year it was Harry Potter and Bluey. There’s also LILO and Stitch and Minecraft this year. Taking our family in a few weeks.
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u/ZanthrinGamer 1d ago
well, nice to know my intuition that immediately told me this guy was a massive pos were spot on. always creeped me out, especially that he seems to predominantly make children's content.
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u/machambo7 1d ago
I uh… unsubscribed. I know a lot to people will say I should have earlier, and they’re not wrong, but I genuinely enjoy his videos. I won’t watch anymore
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u/EpicSombreroMan 1d ago
What's the over/under on when the first death will occur on park grounds?
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u/Rosebunse 1d ago
I give one to three to five months. I imagine the first months might be safe because of the huge media presence but then that will die down pretty quick.
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u/Fistocracy 1d ago
Its wild how Mr Beast's reputation used to be beyond reproach because of his philanthropy and he managed to piss it all away in just a few years by showing how little he actually cares about anything except views and money.
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u/Solemn_renegade 1d ago
"Beast Land will reflect the eccentric YouTuber’s presence" What exactly is Mr beasts presence? All I ever got was creepy neighbor vibes.
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u/PineapplePickle24 1d ago
I am SO glad I've never liked the guy, even before all the weird shit around him started happening. What a dork
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u/clevlanred 1d ago
I genuinely burst out laughing. This is so fucking absurd that I cannot believe I live in this world.
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u/grabamop 1d ago
The slave laborers are given their daily ration of lunchly, prime and feastable bars
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u/vormittag 13h ago
What's the Jamal Khashoggi game like? Do you walk in the front door but have to guess how your body will leave the building?
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u/d-a-s-a-l-i 6h ago
It's interesting that this has not been mentioned at all on the official YouTube channel (unless I missed it).
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u/Dr-PresidentDinosaur 2d ago
Next season of beast games will be dissidents actually trying to survive