Mexico demands compensation from production company over MrBeast pyramid chocolate video

Medio: The Guardian, País: Reino Unido

Mexico is seeking compensation from a production company that worked with YouTube celebrity MrBeast, accusing the star of using images of the country’s ancient archaeological sites to advertise a chocolate brand.

A video of the social media star visiting Maya ruins has been viewed around 60m times since 10 May on YouTube, where he has 395 million subscribers.

In the video, titled “I Explored 2,000 Year Old Ancient Temples,” the influencer explores the ancient Maya cities including Calakmul and Chichén Itzá in south-eastern Mexico.

“I can’t believe the government’s letting us do this,” he said after entering a pyramid, prompting criticism from several users who complained that MrBeast had access to areas restricted to Mexicans.

On Wednesday Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, requested clarification on the conditions under which the YouTuber was granted access.

In the video, the celebrity also advertises his own brand snacks, Feastables, calling them “Mayan-approved,” prompting an official complaint from the National Institute of Archaeology and History.

The permit issued to production company Full Circle Media did not authorise “the use of the image of the archaeological sites for the advertising of commercial brands for private profit,” it added.

Mexico is “demanding compensation for damages and a public retraction, due to noncompliance with the terms,” it said.

MrBeast, whose real name is James Stephen Donaldson, on Sunday [18 May] said he and his team “have great respect for the Mexican and Mayan culture and people” and that they had filmed with full permits.

“We did this video to get people all over the world excited to learn more about their culture,” he said in a post on X. “We filmed with full permits, followed guidelines, had representatives from government agencies following us, Mexican archeologists to make sure we were accurate, AND representatives from the sites to ensure we were following the rules.”

He also said authorities had been “aware of us mentioning Feastables in the video” and added that out of “respect of the sites, it was filmed off site from any national monuments.”

In Mérida, the capital of Yucatán state where Chichén Itzá is located, several residents expressed their disapproval of the access given to the YouTuber.

“Restrictions and regulations should apply to everyone: domestic tourists, foreign visitors, as well as us locals,” said tour guide Jose Elias Aguayo, 53.