The scandal erupted after the release of the video "I Survived 100 Hours Inside an Ancient Temple" by the famous YouTuber Mr. Beast. With more than 53 million views, the content filmed in archaeological sites like Calakmul, Chichén Itzá, and Balamcanché sparked immediate criticism. Mainly due to the influencer's privileged access to areas restricted to the general public.
The outrage was swift. While thousands of Mexicans are prevented from even approaching these spaces, the government of the self-proclaimed "Fourth Transformation" opened the doors to the foreign content creator without much hesitation.
Now, in an attempt to calm the public reaction, the Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, has announced that "there will be sanctions."
The director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Diego Prieto, supported the stance and confirmed that he will seek an administrative lawsuit for "damage to the dignity" of the archaeological sites.
First privileges, then punishments
Prieto's own statements make it clear that the federal authorities were aware of Mr. Beast's team's intentions from the start.
According to his account, the requested permit was denied by INAH due to the unacceptable conditions that included closing the areas to the public and staying overnight inside the pyramids. However, the YouTuber's team turned to state and tourism authorities, who intervened to facilitate the filming.
