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YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is under scrutiny after releasing a video titled “I Survived 100 Hours In An Ancient Temple,” where he explores several ancient Mayan sites in Mexico, including Calakmul, Chichén Itzá, and Balankanché. The video, which has garnered over 50 million views, showcases MrBeast accessing areas typically off-limits to the public, sparking controversy among Mexican officials and the public.
While MrBeast’s team obtained formal permissions through the federal Secretariat of Tourism and state governments, the portrayal of access to restricted areas, such as the substructure of Calakmul’s Edificio II and the interior of Chichén Itzá’s Temple of Kukulcán, has led to public outrage. In the video, MrBeast expresses astonishment, stating, “I can’t believe the government let us do this,” while showcasing areas he claimed were typically restricted to the public.
Mexico’s Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, criticized the video, stating that “appropriate sanctions” would be pursued, as the content undermines the importance and sacredness of the country’s archaeological heritage. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) clarified that certain scenes in the video were dramatized for entertainment and did not reflect actual events. For instance, MrBeast did not spend the night at the archaeological sites, and the drone footage inside the Temple of Kukulcán was achieved through post-production editing.
Despite these clarifications, INAH acknowledged that the video’s presentation could mislead viewers regarding access protocols to these heritage sites. The controversy has sparked a broader debate about the ethics of content creation in culturally sensitive locations and the responsibilities of both creators and authorities in preserving historical sites.
As of now, MrBeast has not publicly addressed the backlash, and the video remains available on his YouTube channel. The situation continues to evolve as Mexican authorities assess potential sanctions and the implications for future content creation in protected cultural sites.
