Tulum, Mexico — With 395 million subscribers, MrBeast is one of those Youtube stars known for his large-scale productions and extreme video contents.
On May 10, MrBeast uploaded a new Youtube video entitled ‘I Explored 2000 year old Ancient Temples’ featuring Mexico’s ancient archaeological site—the Maya ruins.
However, despite the over 62 million video plays, the Mexican government is now demanding MrBeast for compensation after alleged non-compliance of permit terms due to a brand advertisement.
In his video, the influencer explored the ancient Maya cities, eventually entering a pyramid.
This prompted criticism from several users, complaining on how MrBeast had access to areas restricted even to Mexicans.
Several residents in Merida expressed criticism on the access given to the Youtuber, emphasizing that the restrictions should apply to everyone, domestic and foreign tourists, as well as for locals.
In the same video, he also advertised his own chocolate brand snacks, citing them as “Mayan-approved.”
This triggered an official complaint from the National Institute of Archaeology and History, saying that while it acknowledges Youtubers who appreciate these ancient archaeological sites, they strongly condemns those who take advantage.
On Wednesday, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum requested clarification on the conditions of the access granted on the Youtuber.
The National Institute of Archaeology and History noted that the permit issued to production company Full Circle Media did not authorize the use of images of the ancient sites for the advertising of commercial brands for private profit.
Following this, Mexico is now demanding compensation for damages and public retraction due to the Youtuber’s noncompliance with the terms.