MrBeast reacts to backlash over exploiting Mayan pyramids in Mexico: ‘It saddens me to see people spreading lies'
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, responded to growing criticism and misinformation surrounding a recent vlog he filmed while visiting ancient Mayan sites in southeastern Mexico, including Calakmul and Chichén Itzá.
On Sunday, May 18, the YouTube star addressed the controversy sparked by his latest video, titled 'I Explored 2,000 Year Old Ancient Temples.' In the video, MrBeast explores historic Mayan pyramids and promotes his Feastables chocolate brand.
The video drew backlash from Mexican officials and cultural groups, who accused MrBeast of exploiting the country's cultural heritage. According to The Guardian, President Claudia Sheinbaum questioned whether proper authorisation had been granted for filming, while the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) issued a complaint stating that the permit obtained by MrBeast's production team did not include permission to film at archaeological zones.
In response, MrBeast clarified that he had followed all necessary procedures. 'I got permission from multiple government agencies, had archaeologists with us guiding us through the ruins, and followed every rule,' he stated. To reinforce his point, he also shared a message of support from the governor of the state where the filming took place.
'My goal was to bring attention to the beauty and history of Mexico, not to disrespect it,' MrBeast said. 'I've seen a lot of stories about our recent video in Mexico and wanted to clear some false things being said. Me and my team have great respect for the Mexican and Mayan culture and people. We did this video to get people all over the world excited to learn more about their culture, much like we did with our Pyramids video. We are not and have never been sued by them lol,' he wrote on X.
See here:
I've seen a lot of stories about our recent video in Mexico and wanted to clear some false things being said. Me and my team have great respect for the Mexican and Mayan culture and people. We did this video to get people all over the world excited to learn more about their… pic.twitter.com/CCRo4Hu1X5
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) May 18, 2025
The YouTuber continued, 'That is false, and it saddens me to see people spreading lies. We filmed with full permits, followed guidelines, had representatives from government agencies following us, Mexican archeologists to make sure we were accurate, AND representatives from the sites to ensure we were following the rules. The governor of the state we shot in even came out in our defense.'
MrBeast further clarified that his team had been transparent with officials about their plans to promote his Feastables chocolate brand during the trip and took care to avoid filming near any national monuments. He also revealed the philanthropic efforts his team undertook while in Mexico.
'We also never planned on sharing this, but as always my hand is forced by false headlines — behind the scenes we funded wells and water projects in the state,' MrBeast wrote. 'I've also been working with INAH on a fund to support local Mexican archaeology and new discoveries because I wanted to help spread the culture as a thanks for allowing us to film,' he clarified.
In addition, Layda Elena Sansores, the Governor of Campeche, released a public statement expressing her gratitude to MrBeast and his team for their visit. She thanked them for shining a spotlight on the region and using their platform to bring greater visibility to the area.
We are deeply grateful to @MrBeast for visiting Calakmul and sharing the grandeur of our Mayan culture with the world. His presence brought a direct economic boost to local communities and greatly contributed to the global promotion of our tourism. He did not charge a single peso…
— Layda Sansores (@LaydaSansores) May 14, 2025
MrBeast, often referred to as the King of YouTube, is currently the platform's most-subscribed creator, with 395 million subscribers. His video exploring the Mayan pyramids was released on May 10.
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