‘Larger than life.’ Central KY man gets chance at $5 million on reality show with MrBeast
A Bourbon County man said he had a blast vying for a chance to win $5 million on “Beast Games,” a new reality show by popular YouTuber MrBeast.
He said he even got to chat with MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, who has more than 330 million YouTube subscribers and is known for over-the-top stunts and extravagant prizes.
“It was larger than life,” said Nick Gray, 33. “I got to meet my favorite YouTubers,” and he said he made friends with people from all over.
Gray, of Paris, said he signed up online to be on the “Beast Games” show after seeing a post by MrBeast asking for contestants.
He said he went through rounds of phone calls, Zoom calls, background and medical checks before being approved.
“I wasn’t too hopeful it would play out, but to my surprise, it did,” Gray said in an interview Saturday.
Gray said he was one of 2,000 people who went to Las Vegas in May, where the contestants were narrowed to 1,000. The YouTube video showing that process had garnered more than 71 million views by Saturday.
Gray said he spent five days in Allegiant Stadium, where contestants performed tasks such as working together to lift a 10,000-pound boulder and playing an “intense” game of capture the flag.
Gray made the cut and went to Toronto for 10 days in August to participate in filming for “Beast Games,” which has been streaming on Prime Video since Thursday.
“I did get a big moment in the second episode,” he said.
Gray said his team was on a tower playing a giant game of “cup pong,” and as they strategized, it was suggested that people who might not do well go first.
Gray, who doesn’t do so well with heights, said he stepped up to volunteer.
“I’m just trying to keep it together, so why don’t I go first,” he said.
That’s when Gray said his “big moment” came: “I’m clearly nervous. I throw the ball, and it actually goes in, and I go nuts,” he recounted.
Unfortunately, he said he experienced his highest and lowest moments on the show that day.
His team lost the challenge, and he was eliminated.
Gray said he was among the last 366 people on the show.
“I’m kind of proud of myself for making it that far,” he said. “Everyone there was hoping to win it all, too.”
In September, several contestants filed a lawsuit against MrBeast and Amazon, alleging that competitors were not given adequate food or medical treatment and that female contestants were subjected to sexual harassment.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Gray said of controversies surrounding MrBeast. “I think he really does want to do good by people.”
Gray said he didn’t come home empty-handed. Everyone received $2,000 for participating.
Now, he’s lobbying for a second chance, asking people to comment “Bring back 601,” his contestant number, on MrBeast’s YouTube video in which the contestants were winnowed to 1,000.
“I think it’s very, very likely that there’ll be a Season 2 for ‘Beast Games,’” he said. “I’ve got so much fight left in me.”
