Maddy Spidell, the once-girlfriend of YouTube sensation MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson), is back in the limelight, but not for a viral video or another grand gesture. This time, she would say, she was sounding an alarm about how those platforms, particularly YouTube, were taking control of our lives and deciding what would be pushed into the algorithm for its users.
On August 8, 2024, Maddy posted a few stories on her Instagram that seemed like more than random thoughts. Although she didn’t mention anybody by name, the posts’ timing and content strongly hinted at MrBeast. She called for YouTube to “reevaluate who you’re putting on the trending page,” explaining that one of her past relationships should be seen as a cautionary tale for young women.
Posted on Instagram and Twitter (now X), her posts were coming in thick and fast, reflecting on what she’s achieved since their 2022 split. In three years, she wrote how she was happier and healthier: “My skin is clear, my relationships and friendships are flourishing, I’m frolicking in a field.” Her posts were less about personal growth and more about social media platforms running the course of doing better.
“You need to reevaluate who you’re putting on the trending page.”
MrBeast’s ex-girlfriend posted this message on Instagram pic.twitter.com/R4iQ3jKWIN
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) August 8, 2024
Spidell’s social media appearance was always much lower-key compared to other influencers, certainly during her time with MrBeast. The couple started dating back in 2019, and, with all the over-the-top gestures, MrBeast is known for his viral 100,000 rose surprise for Valentine’s Day. Following their 2022 breakup, in which Spidell was reportedly heartbroken, she chose to recuperate away from the spotlight and ultimately maintain a more low-key profile.
Although she didn’t directly say anything about MrBeast, very little can be left to the imagination for one who knows their history. She explained that people had to protect loved ones from “harmful people” and encouraged vigilance to women. It’s all of our jobs to protect our friends, our moms, our wives, our sisters, our daughters, OURSELVES from people like that,” she wrote. But fans were left scratching their heads over what exactly she was referring to—and if it related to her rumored boyfriend and one of YouTube’s biggest stars.
The reaction was instant. Some fans applauded her for speaking out strongly. Some fanatics were more curious and asked why she didn’t name people or address more specific issues. But to Maddy, it was a message regarding the bigger picture: how social media amplifies the wrong voices and sets dangerous precedents for what is deemed popular or worthy of attention.
It resonated with her fan base because she was more than just “MrBeast’s ex.” Maddy regards being strong and meaningful in communicating whatever she has to say, either in her social media posts or in the content she shares with her followers. So this latest move on her end went further to prove the fact that she could use her platform for much more than entertainment, that is, making people think and create change.
That’s why, arriving when social media is under start-to-finish suspicion, Maddy’s posts have algorithms on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, pretty often at the expense of more responsible or responsible material. So influencers like Maddy are starting a pushback, asking for a recalibration.
So much more was behind her call to “reevaluate who you’re putting on the trending page” than checking in with her past relationship; she was querying the very systems that make what’s being seen online. Focusing on such platforms’ ethical responsibility, Maddy uses her voice to advocate for that which ensures a digital space that treasures safety and retains it amidst views and clicks.
These have ranged from complaints about unsafe working conditions for his show to accusations of hiring troublesome people around him. Yet, MrBeast is one of the most popular personalities on YouTube, renowned for his epic challenges and philanthropic ways. But Maddy’s most recent words have cast a shadow over that image, prompting questions of who and why gets promoted on social media platforms.
As MrBeast continues navigating the controversies around him, Spidell’s comments add another layer to the narrative. The breakup happened over two years ago, but public interest remains significant like their relationship and how it’s affected by these controversies. In calling into question something like social media networks’ reluctance to promote content that matches sound ethical considerations, his words can be linked with not just what garners clicks but with what is right.
