"Like Indiana Jones, But Was It Just CG?"... Top YouTuber MrBeast Faces Controversy Over Ruins Video

MrBeast Faces Criticism Over Filming in Restricted Ruins
Local Outcry Grows Over "Negligent Management" by Authorities
Mexican Officials Clarify: "Filming Was Restricted to Permitted Areas"
Controversy Spreads Over Alleged Video Fabrication

MrBeast (real name Jimmy Donaldson), who has the highest number of YouTube subscribers in the world, is facing allegations of fabrication after staging scenes in a video about Mexican ruins to make it appear as if he visited locations that are off-limits to the public.

MrBeast, the world's number one YouTube channel subscriber, is causing controversy by inserting digitally processed scenes as if they were actual footage due to on-site filming being prohibited. MrBeast YouTube

According to Latin Times and other outlets on May 14 (local time), MrBeast uploaded a 15-minute and 45-second video titled "Exploring a 2,000-Year-Old Ancient Temple" to his YouTube channel on May 10. In the video, MrBeast claimed to have explored various sites of the Mayan civilization for 100 hours, including the interior of the Calakmul ruins in Campeche and the Temple of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza, Yucatan.

In the video, MrBeast introduced the location, saying, "I can't believe the government lets people do this." The footage depicts him exploring deep inside the ruins, landing on top of a pyramid via helicopter, staying overnight in a protected area where lodging is prohibited, and handling ancient artifacts that would typically be seen in a museum. There is also a scene showing the interior at the top of the El Castillo pyramid in Chichen Itza, filmed with a drone.

However, areas such as the interior of the Calakmul ruins and the Temple of Kukulcan, which he filmed, are restricted zones where entry is prohibited. The media reported, "Both sites are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and to preserve them, access to certain areas is strictly forbidden to the public."

Locally, the controversy has intensified, with criticism that Mexican authorities are failing to adequately protect and manage cultural heritage sites. In response, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), which is responsible for the research, preservation, and protection of various Mexican ruins and heritage, released a statement clarifying that some of the controversial scenes were not filmed on-site but were instead digitally processed through editing.

INAH stated that it is reviewing the filming permits and requirements for publishing the video in relation to the controversy, and added, "MrBeast filmed within the permitted scope, and our staff continuously supervised the site to ensure compliance with safety and management measures for heritage protection."

INAH further explained, "He did not approach the pyramid by helicopter. He only visited locations that are open to the public after a prior application and review process. He did not stay overnight in any protected areas, and the artifacts shown were replicas exaggerated to appear genuine." Some have also analyzed that the controversial scenes appear to have been created using computer graphics (CG).

Meanwhile, as of the fourth day after its release, the video had reached 56 million views. MrBeast currently has 394 million subscribers.