KUALA LUMPUR: YouTube sensation MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has announced his engagement to girlfriend Thea Booysen.
The 26-year-old revealed that he proposed on Christmas Day, sharing photos of the moment he got down on one knee, the BBC reported.
Donaldson, the world's most popular YouTuber with 340 million subscribers, is known for his elaborate stunts and charitable ventures.
His fiancée Booysen, originally from South Africa, is a 27-year-old Twitch streamer and published author who also runs her own YouTube channel, TheaBeasty, boasting nearly 40,000 subscribers. The couple now resides in the United States.
In an interview with People magazine, MrBeast shared that he proposed during a visit from Booysen's family.
Despite his reputation for grand gestures, he opted for a "really private and intimate" proposal. The couple shared festive photos featuring themselves and their dog dressed in matching MrBeast-branded jumpers.
When asked about their wedding plans, Booysen told People they're considering a small, intimate ceremony.
"We're thinking of doing it somewhere on an island where we're far away from just about everybody," she said.
"It's not going to be big or extravagant, just close family and friends."
Booysen has been a steadfast supporter of MrBeast, particularly during challenging times.
Last year, she defended him against allegations involving his former co-host Ava Kris Tyson, which MrBeast later called "baseless."
Thea wrote on her channel that she "wouldn't be with him" if the allegations were true.
The pair were recently photographed together at the red carpet premiere of MrBeast's new series, Beast Games.
Inspired by Netflix's Squid Game, the Amazon Prime series features 1,000 players competing for a $5 million (RM22.5 million) cash prize.
However, the show has faced significant backlash.
In September, legal documents filed by contestants alleged exploitation and sexual harassment during production.
Although MrBeast has not formally addressed the claims, he dismissed them on X (formerly Twitter) as being "blown out of proportion."
Beast Games, which began streaming on December 19, has also drawn harsh criticism from reviewers.
The Guardian described it as "ugly and tasteless," while IGN labeled it "shallow" and "dull."
In response to IGN's review, MrBeast defended the project, calling it unfair to undermine the efforts of the production team.
Despite the criticism, MrBeast insists the series remains popular globally on Amazon Prime.