In a recent high-profile case, Mexican authorities have accused renowned YouTuber MrBeast—real name Jimmy Donaldson—of exploiting the country's ancient pyramids by violating the terms of a film permit obtained for creating content at archaeological sites. The controversial video titled "I Explored 2000 Year Old Ancient Temples," which features MrBeast and his team exploring significant Mayan ruins, has garnered over 60 million views within a week and includes a promotional segment for his chocolate product represented as a "Mayan dessert."
Mexico Demands Compensation from MrBeast for Permit Violation
Mexico Demands Compensation from MrBeast for Permit Violation
Mexican officials accuse popular YouTuber MrBeast of misusing filming permit rights at ancient Mayan sites for commercial promotion.
While the film permit was authorized by local authorities, they clarified that it strictly prohibited any commercial use. A representative for MrBeast refuted claims of misconduct, emphasizing that no advertisement was filmed on the archaeological sites managed by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). Instead, they stated that promotional content was shot at the influencer's camping site away from the heritage locations. The spokesperson expressed the intention behind the video was to promote awareness of the Mayan treasures, stating it was unfortunate that the situation had escalated into a political matter.
However, President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for an investigation into the authorization of permits, amidst rising concerns over the representation of cultural heritage. INAH contested MrBeast's claims, insisting that he never handled a genuine pre-Hispanic mask and described key scenes in the video—such as those featuring a helicopter and descents into pyramids—as heavily edited or misleading.
The Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, articulated her disapproval of any commercial activities that diminish the significance of archaeological sites, underscoring their importance as a legacy of Indigenous cultures. She confirmed that INAH is considering imposing "administrative sanctions" on the production company Full Circle Media that facilitated the filming. MrBeast, regarded as the top content creator on YouTube with 395 million subscribers, shared his gratitude to Mexican tourism authorities in the video, while promoting his chocolate product links in the description.
However, President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for an investigation into the authorization of permits, amidst rising concerns over the representation of cultural heritage. INAH contested MrBeast's claims, insisting that he never handled a genuine pre-Hispanic mask and described key scenes in the video—such as those featuring a helicopter and descents into pyramids—as heavily edited or misleading.
The Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, articulated her disapproval of any commercial activities that diminish the significance of archaeological sites, underscoring their importance as a legacy of Indigenous cultures. She confirmed that INAH is considering imposing "administrative sanctions" on the production company Full Circle Media that facilitated the filming. MrBeast, regarded as the top content creator on YouTube with 395 million subscribers, shared his gratitude to Mexican tourism authorities in the video, while promoting his chocolate product links in the description.
