Things change, things stay the same: MrBeast and novel philanthropy

Abstract

There is a tendency in the study of philanthropy to see each new innovation or movement as transformative and distinct from what has come before. Before MrBeast there was philanthrocapitalism and before long there will be another shiny new toy for those of us who research or practice philanthropy to study. Happily, Rhodri Davies' analysis of MrBeast's philanthropy avoids falling into the trap of seeing novelty at every turn. Instead, he presents a nuanced and measured analysis of the criticisms of MrBeast and of his philanthropic endeavours, weighing up where the mud sticks and where it does not. This response explores the relative novelty of MrBeast's approach to philanthropy and of the criticisms that have been levied at it.