EXCLUSIVE: MrBeast Accused Of Profiting From Late Rapper’s Photo In $100K Battle Over Image

MrBeast is accused of profiting from a dead influencer’s image after Lucas Coly’s former manager filed a $100,000 copyright lawsuit against the YouTube titan.

Enrico Taylor alleges James Stephen Donaldson and MrBeast YouTube LLC copied the visual design of his 2021 photo, “Lucas Coly Holding Stack of Money.”

The federal complaint, filed Tuesday in Missouri, says the disputed recreation appeared in MrBeast content, including a video involving Lil Baby.

Taylor claims the allegedly copied image repeats Coly’s head angle, money stack, black shirt, red shoulder garment, jewelry and close-up framing.

The lawsuit does not accuse MrBeast of copying the general concept of someone holding cash beside their face.

Instead, Taylor argues MrBeast copied the photo’s specific “selection, coordination, arrangement, composition, styling, pose, and visual presentation.”

Taylor wrote that he contacted MrBeast’s team after learning about the recreation and sought recognition for Coly’s legacy.

The filing says Taylor asked to have Coly tagged, use one of his songs in a post or establish support for at-risk creators.

“Instead was told by his lawyers in short, no,” Taylor wrote. “So the Plaintiff is taking action to stop the exploitation of his deceased client.”

Taylor further claims he wants proceeds tied to the alleged infringement turned over to create a foundation in Coly’s honor.

“Plaintiff is hoping MrBeast has a change of heart,” the complaint states. “But here we are fighting for Justice for Lucas Coly.”

Coly, a French-American rapper and social media personality, died in Las Vegas in October 2024 at age 27.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office confirmed Coly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to contemporaneous reporting.

Hours before his death, Coly posted, “I love y’all,” on Instagram, while Taylor later said he had spoken with him shortly before he died.

Taylor alleges he owns the registered copyright for the photograph. The complaint says Taylor earlier brought a related Copyright Claims Board case, which was dismissed without prejudice in July 2025 without an amended claim.

Taylor is asking a jury to find infringement, award $100,000 plus any attributable profits, require an accounting and stop MrBeast from using or promoting the disputed image.

The case remains unresolved, and MrBeast has not filed a response in the court docket that AllHipHop reviewed.