In Video: Mexico suing company that helped MrBeast produce video on Mayan ruins

New Controversy Surrounds YouTube Star’s Viral Video of Ancient Temple

We visited one of Mexico’s most ancient temples, a 2,000-year-old Mayan site, in a YouTube video that has racked up over 60 million views in just a week. However, Mexican authorities are now suing the company that helped produce the video, claiming it was shot without permission to profit from it.

A Treasure Hunt Like No Other

In the video, YouTube star Mr. Beast, whose real name is James Donaldson, explores the ancient Mayan city in southeastern Mexico. At one point, he exclaims, "I do want to go to jail if I take one of these ancient artifacts home." The influencer, who has 395 million subscribers to his channel, was allowed access to the site due to special permission from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History.

Commercialization of Ancient Sites Condemned

However, the National Institute of Anthropology and History has filed a lawsuit against Full Circle Media, the company that represents Mr. Beast, for violating the terms of their permission to film at the site. The agency claims that the company was allowed to film for non-commercial purposes, but the resulting video was monetized and is now being used to promote a snack product.

Government Condemns Commercialization of Heritage Sites

A statement released by the INAH condemns those who commercialize archaeological sites for private profit, saying it "distorts the value of our indigenous cultures and the pride of our nation." The agency is demanding compensation for damages and has requested an investigation into the circumstances under which Mr. Beast was granted access to the site.

Mexican President Weighs In

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has announced that her administration will look into the conditions under which Mr. Beast was granted access to the site and what sanctions may apply if any permits were violated. It seems that access to these ancient ruins is a highly selective and formal process, requiring interested parties to go through the INAH agency.

The Video’s Future Uncertain

The implications of this lawsuit and investigation are unclear, but it has raised questions about the commercialization of cultural heritage sites. The video’s creator, Mr. Beast, has released a statement saying that the video was meant to highlight the ancient Mayan sites and that no advertising was shot on location at the sites overseen by the INAH. The future of the video and potential consequences for Mr. Beast and Full Circle Media remain uncertain.

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