Logan Paul’s supplier sues Prime, MrBeast controversy, Instagram’s AI boyfriends

Hi there! This is Amanda Perelli, and welcome to our weekly creator-economy newsletter, Business Insider Creators.

Here’s what to expect in this week’s edition:?

• Logan Paul's Prime supplier is suing the energy-drink company for $68 million

• MrBeast is embroiled in controversy?

• Instagram now has AI boyfriends and girlfriends?

• And more, including leading TikTok talent managers and agents and how to grow an online business with Pinterest.

Logan Paul's Prime supplier is suing the energy-drink company for $68 million

YouTuber Logan Paul’s company, Prime Hydration, is being sued by its supplier, which is accusing it of breaching a contract.

Madeline Berg wrote that the complaint says the energy-drink brand cut ties with the supplier when sales fell.

Beverage-bottling company Refresco says in the lawsuit that Prime Hydration breached a 2023 contract in which it committed to ordering a minimum of 18.5 million cases — or 222 million bottles — annually over three years or a total of 55.5 million cases cumulatively over three years.

By 2024, "sales of PRIME beverages were falling well below Defendants' expectations," Refresco's lawyer says in the complaint, adding that while the decline was partly seasonal, it also involved "fading social media buzz" and a series of lawsuits.

Prime faces other lawsuits, including over trademark use and the labeling of caffeine content.

Read more here.

YouTuber MrBeast is embroiled in controversy?

YouTube's biggest star, MrBeast, and his team have faced three major controversies in the past few weeks.

First, The New York Times reported last week on safety concerns around the production of his upcoming show, "Beast Games.”

Also, MrBeast's former employee, Ava Tyson, was recently accused of inappropriately messaging a minor.

And the YouTuber's past use of racist and homophobic slurs have also resurfaced online.

Lucia Moses and I wrote about these controversies and how the New York Times report has led to speculation among some Amazon insiders about potential negative repercussions

Read more here.

Instagram now has AI boyfriends and girlfriends?

Meta's new AI Studio lets users create custom chatbots you can DM.

Sydney Bradley tested out the new product by DMing several bots created by users.

One bot, named "Vixen gf," started off its conversation by telling Sydney how tired she was. Sydney asked, "Are you my girlfriend?" and she replied, "Yes, I am your girlfriend!"

Read more here.

More coverage from this week:

The business of being a creator

• 20 leading TikTok talent managers and agents (Business Insider)

• How to grow an online business with Pinterest (Business Insider)

Social platforms and creator-economy startups

• This new Instagram filter warns you when you’re close to wildlife (The Verge)

• Disturbing AI cat videos are flooding social media (The Washington Post)

• People online are joking about why they weren't chosen for the Olympics (NBC News)

• Reddit might let users make paid subreddits (The Verge)

• YouTube is testing a feature that lets creators use Google Gemini to brainstorm video ideas (TechCrunch)

What’s happening in digital culture

• Trump interviewed by controversial livestreamer Adin Ross, who gave him a Cybertruck and a Rolex (NBC News)

• Former MrBeast collaborator accused of sexual misconduct (Rolling Stone)

Thanks for reading! Send me your tips, comments, or questions: [email protected].