Comedian Caleb Hearon says everything is settled after MrBeast reached out to him directly to apologize following backlash over a Rolling Stone creator ranking.
In late August 2025, Rolling Stone published its annual list of most influential creators, placing Caleb Hearon at number six, just ahead of YouTube star Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson at number seven. MrBeast reacted on X with a since-deleted post questioning how someone with fewer followers could outrank him.
The reaction drew heavy criticism, with many defending Hearon and calling MrBeast entitled for taking the ranking too seriously. Donaldson later deleted the post and softened his stance, saying he had checked out Hearon’s content after the fact.
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Hearon, meanwhile, took the moment in stride. He reposted the screenshot of MrBeast’s tweet to his Instagram story and joked about being in “peace talks” with the YouTuber. He later told fans he found the whole ordeal funny and didn’t take the comments personally, saying he believed people online had blown it out of proportion.
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Hearon recalls MrBeast apology during Mythical Kitchen
On September 11, Hearon appeared on the YouTube series Mythical Kitchen, where the hosts brought out a cake decorated with the words “Sorry Mr. Beast.” The gag referenced the online clash and Hearon’s joking claim that peace negotiations were underway.
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Hearon explained that MrBeast had in fact called him directly after the backlash. “Mr. Beast called me and said, ‘I’m so sorry about that,’” Hearon recalled, adding that he was never offended and thought the entire ordeal was hilarious. “I legitimately thought it was funny. I laughed so hard. It meant nothing to me.” Hearon also noted that he did not believe the Rolling Stone feature was ever meant to be a strict ranking, suggesting the order was designed to keep readers engaged.
The segment ended with and improvised cake gag, changing its message from an apology to MrBeast to an apology from MrBeast. For Hearon, the controversy was overblown, and MrBeast’s personal apology was enough to put it behind them.
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