Mexico has accused US YouTuber MrBeast and his production company of exploiting the country’s ancient Mayan pyramids for commercial gain. The influencer, Jimmy Donaldson, was filming a video that shows him exploring Mayan cities with a permit, but allegedly used the site to promote his chocolate product.
MrBeast’s team claims that no advertisement material was shot on archaeological sites overseen by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). However, authorities say that MrBeast did not obtain permission for-profit use and accused him of presenting misinformation about the pyramids.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for an investigation into the conditions under which the filming permit was granted. The country’s Secretary of Culture said that the exploitation of ancient sites is a “legacy of our indigenous cultures” and that Mexico will not tolerate those who “take advantage of the willingness of institutions”.
MrBeast, who has 395 million followers on YouTube, faced criticism for using his platform to promote his products while filming in Mexico. The controversy raises questions about the commercialization of cultural heritage sites and the responsibility of social media influencers to respect and preserve ancient history.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr70vykk0wo