In a significant cultural confrontation, Mexican officials have announced plans to potentially take legal action against the popular YouTuber MrBeast, following the release of a video featuring his unauthorized visit to the ancient Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá. The video, titled "I Explored 2,000 Year Old Ancient Temples," rapidly garnered over 60 million views since its posting on Saturday, making waves across social media platforms.
This much-discussed clip begins with MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, stating, "Everything you guys are seeing now the Mayans didn’t want us to see," creating an air of exclusivity around the ruins. Viewers witness MrBeast traversing the historical site — known for its rich cultural heritage and towering pyramids — even after sunset. The ancient city of Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular tourist destination that draws millions annually, and has specific regulations restricting activities such as climbing on the pyramids.
Critics argue that MrBeast's actions in the video, which include climbing the sacred structures and filming in restricted areas at night, show a blatant disregard for the established guidelines meant to protect these historical sites. Toward the conclusion of the video, MrBeast promotes his own candy brand, Feastables, dubbing it “the only Mayan-approved snack on the planet,” which has further fueled the controversy surrounding the ethics of commercialization in such culturally sensitive contexts.
The backlash has led Mexico's culture secretary to state that the matter is under review, with potential legal repercussions looming over the production company involved in the filming. As the debate continues, many are calling for stricter enforcement of site regulations to preserve the integrity and significance of the ancient Maya ruins for future generations.
This much-discussed clip begins with MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, stating, "Everything you guys are seeing now the Mayans didn’t want us to see," creating an air of exclusivity around the ruins. Viewers witness MrBeast traversing the historical site — known for its rich cultural heritage and towering pyramids — even after sunset. The ancient city of Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular tourist destination that draws millions annually, and has specific regulations restricting activities such as climbing on the pyramids.
Critics argue that MrBeast's actions in the video, which include climbing the sacred structures and filming in restricted areas at night, show a blatant disregard for the established guidelines meant to protect these historical sites. Toward the conclusion of the video, MrBeast promotes his own candy brand, Feastables, dubbing it “the only Mayan-approved snack on the planet,” which has further fueled the controversy surrounding the ethics of commercialization in such culturally sensitive contexts.
The backlash has led Mexico's culture secretary to state that the matter is under review, with potential legal repercussions looming over the production company involved in the filming. As the debate continues, many are calling for stricter enforcement of site regulations to preserve the integrity and significance of the ancient Maya ruins for future generations.
