Mexico Demands Compensation from YouTuber MRBeast

Mexico has taken a strong stance against popular YouTuber MRBeast and a production company, accusing them of exploiting the nation’s ancient pyramids for commercial gain. The controversy revolves around a video titled "I Explored a 2000-Year-Old Temple," where MRBeast and his team explore ancient Maya cities with permission from local authorities.

The Video and Its Impact

The video, which has garnered over 60 million views in just a week, shows MRBeast promoting his chocolate product as a "Maya dessert" and encouraging his audience to buy it. The Mexican authorities claim that while they granted permission for filming at the sites, they did not authorize the use of the footage for profit-oriented purposes. A representative of MRBeast has denied some of the allegations, stating that no advertising material was shot on archaeological sites.

MRBeast’s Response

A spokesman for the YouTuber told the BBC that the scene promoting the chocolate snack was filmed at the influencer’s campsite, not on the archaeological sites. The spokesman also emphasized that the video was intended to highlight the esteemed Maya websites in Mexico and that it was regrettable that the situation had become a political issue. MRBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, thanked Mexican tourism and government authorities for permission to film on the sites in the video’s caption, while also including links to his chocolate product.

The Investigation and Accusations

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for an investigation into the conditions under which the film permit was granted. The authorities of the cultural heritage have accused MRBeast of submitting misinformation, claiming that he never handled a real pre-Hispanic mask and that the helicopter scene was extensively edited in post-production. The Mexican Cultural Secretary, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, stated that while they had approved MRBeast for filming, they had never authorized the publication of false information or the use of cultural heritage images for brand advertising.

Consequences and Sanctions

The Mexican government has expressed disapproval of any commercial exploitation that distorts the value of archaeological sites, which are an inheritance of their indigenous cultures and the pride of the nation. They are open to content that contributes to the knowledge and dissemination of Mexico’s archaeological and cultural heritage but are firmly against those who exploit the willingness of institutions. The government is considering "administrative sanctions" against the production company Full Circle Media, which was issued the film permit.

MRBeast’s Popularity and Reach

MRBeast, known as the King of YouTube, is the most subscribed person on the platform with 395 million supporters. His Maya pyramid video was released on May 10th and has sparked a significant amount of attention and controversy. The situation highlights the importance of responsible content creation and the need for respect towards cultural heritage sites.