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Mexico is looking for a reimbursement from US YouTuber MRBeast and a production company that accuses them of exploiting the old pyramids of the nation for commercial gain.
The video “I explored 2000 years old old temples” shows the influencer and his team that explores old Maya cities, with a permit from local authorities.
But in a part of the video, which received more than 60 million views in a week, MRBeast advertises his chocolate product as a “Mayan -Dessert” and is pushing to buy it at viewers.
Authorities said that although they had given permission for the YouTuber to film on the sites, they had not allowed use with a profit motive. An MRBeast representative denied some of the accusations.
A spokesperson for the YouTuber told the BBC: “No advertising material was shot at archaeological locations under the supervision of Inah (National Institute of Anthropology and History).”
In the video, the scene that promotes the chocolate snack seems to be filmed at the campsite of the influencer.
The spokesperson also said that the video “was meant to emphasize this cherished Maya sites in Mexico” and that it was “a shame that this has become a political issue – hopefully it can lead to a productive dialogue and encourage people to visit these unique historical treasures”.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, asked on Wednesday to investigate the conditions under which the film permit was granted.
In the caption of the video, MRBeast – whose real name Jimmy Donaldson is – thanks Mexican tourism and government agencies for permission to film on the sites, while also connects links to his chocolate product.
The video shows him and his team that explores areas of limited access in the Maya cities Calakmul and Chichén Itzá. At one point he says: “I can’t believe the government lets us do this.”
They also seem to fall in a pyramid from a helicopter and shown in another scene to use an old pre-Spanish mask.
But heritage authorities said these were “false claims” and accused the YouTuber of presenting wrong information. Inah said that Mrbeast had never kept a real pre-Spanish mask and that there seemed to have been extensive post-production processing in the video-such as the helicopter scene.
“These are all false claims that obey the theatricality of the YouTuber in question,” said the statement on Monday.
Mexico’s Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel The ICAZA said on Thursday that although they had authorized the permit for MRBeast to film, they never authorized the publication of Heritage Site Images for trademark advertisements.
“We reject every commercial chase that deforms the value of archaeological locations, which are a legacy of our indigenous cultures and the pride of our nation,” she said.
She added that, although Mexico was open for content that contributes to the “knowledge and distribution of the archaeological and cultural heritage of Mexico”, it was firm against those who “benefit from the willingness of institutions”.
She said that inah would consider “administrative sanctions” against the production company Full Circle Media, which received the film permit. The BBC has sought comments from the company.
MrBeast, the king of YouTube, is the most subsidy for person on the platform, with 395 million followers. His video from Maya Pyramids was published on 10 May.
