YouTube megastar MrBeast is known for giving away islands, burying himself alive, and funding wild stunts. But this time, he may have gone one TikTok transition too far and Mexico is not amused.
In a video titled “I Explored 2000 Year Old Ancient Temples” which has clocked over 60 million views since dropping on May 10, the YouTuber (real name Jimmy Donaldson) is seen hiking through ancient Mayan sites, pretending to parachute into a pyramid, and at one point, casually advertising his Feastables chocolate bar as a “Mayan dessert.”
Unfortunately for MrBeast, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) didn’t find it sweet. They’ve accused the YouTuber of violating his filming permit and using Mexico’s ancient ruins for profit specifically, pyramid-flavoured product placement.
What Went Wrong?
According to INAH, the permit granted to MrBeast’s production company, Full Circle Media, allowed filming but not ads. And definitely not fake helicopter landings, CGI pyramids, or ancient relic handling. They say those scenes were “false assertions” staged for dramatic effect. You know classic YouTuber stuff.
In one shot, MrBeast descends into a pyramid via helicopter like he’s on a Mission: Impossible set. In another, he allegedly holds a pre Hispanic mask that officials say he never touched IRL. INAH was, let’s say, unimpressed by what they called “the theatricality of the YouTuber in question.”
“Thanks for the permit, now here’s my chocolate”
MrBeast, 27, did thank the Mexican government in the video’s caption right before linking to his chocolate product. It was this not-so-subtle combo of heritage site + snack promotion that has ruffled feathers all the way up to President Claudia Sheinbaum, who’s now ordered a full investigation into the whole thing.
Cultural officials, including Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza, weren’t exactly throwing chocolate hearts either. She called it a case of “commercial distortion of national heritage”, saying sacred sites aren’t meant to be turned into billboards, no matter how viral your video goes.
“We disapprove of any commercial pursuit that distorts the value of archaeological sites,” she said. In other words: stop using our pyramids as props for product launches.
But Wait, MrBeast Says It Was All Above Board
A representative for MrBeast told the BBC that no promotional material was shot directly on archaeological grounds. The chocolate ad, they say, was filmed elsewhere (probably somewhere safe from ancient curses and cultural backlash). The intent, they added, was to “highlight treasured Mayan sites” not to sell snacks at sacred temples.
They called the whole drama “unfortunate” and hoped it could “lead to a productive dialogue.”
Culture Clash or Clickbait Crisis?
At the heart of the issue is a question as old as YouTube itself: when does content become exploitation? Was the video an homage to Mayan heritage, or a cleverly edited infomercial wrapped in a jungle adventure?
Whatever the case, Mexico is now seeking compensation, and INAH is considering sanctions against Full Circle Media for misuse of its filming privileges. And somewhere in a post-production studio, someone is probably double-checking the next pyramid scene isn’t against federal law.
As for MrBeast the self crowned King of YouTube with nearly 400 million subscribers, he’s yet to comment directly. But if he does, don’t be surprised if the apology includes a helicopter, $100,000, and free chocolate for every archaeologist in Mexico.
