YOUTUBER MRBEAST JOINS BID TO BUY TIKTOK BEFORE U.S.BAN – Jimmy Donaldson claimed to be in talks with potential billionaire investors
MrBeast, the popular YouTuber known as Jimmy Donaldson, has entered the discussion about purchasing TikTok in an effort to prevent its ban in the United States.
Donaldson initially appeared to joke about the idea, tweeting, “Okay fine, I’ll buy TikTok so it doesn’t get banned.” However, hours later, he claimed to be in talks with potential billionaire investors, though he did not disclose names. Sources close to Donaldson confirmed that his team is engaging with multiple parties interested in acquiring TikTok.
The future of TikTok in the U.S. is uncertain, with the app facing a potential nationwide ban as soon as Sunday. A law signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024 requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. assets by January 19, 2025, or face being blocked. ByteDance and TikTok have requested a delay in the law’s implementation.
TikTok’s legal team argues the ban would violate First Amendment protections on free speech, but national security concerns highlighted by Supreme Court justices could override those claims.
TikTok has warned in court filings that a month-long ban could cause a significant loss of users, estimating that one-third of its 170 million American users would stop accessing the platform during that time.
