MrBeast Responds to Backlash Over Mexico Vlog: 'I Hope to Go Back Someday'
Beast was accused of taking advantage of Mexico's rich history and culture.
MrBeast has addressed the commotion and misinformation that have resulted from a vlog he recorded while visiting ancient Mayan cities, including Calakmul and Chichén Itzá, in Southeastern Mexico.
On Sunday (May 18), MrBeast released a statement through his X account in an attempt to clear up the controversy from his latest YouTube video titled, "I Explored 2,000 Year Old Ancient Temples." The video highlights Beast's trip to Mexico, where he entered an ancient Mayan pyramid and promoted his own Feastables chocolate brand.
According to The Guardian, several Mexican officials and groups were upset over Beast's video and accused him of taking advantage of the country's rich culture. Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, reportedly asked what clearance Beast had to film the video, and the National Institute of Archaeology and History released a complaint in which it claimed the permit Beast and his production company obtained didn't allow filming at archaeological sites.
Beast caught wind of all the noise and released a statement announcing his true intention of bringing eyes to the country and revealing that there was no issue with filming, as he got permission from government agencies and even had archaeologists walking them through everything. He also showed a message from the state governor where filming took place that defended Beast and his team.
"I've seen a lot of stories about our recent video in Mexico and wanted to clear some false things being said," said Beast. "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 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."
Beast added that officials knew he would be promoting his chocolate brand and made sure not to film any content near national monuments. He also shared the philanthropic work that his team conducted while out 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," Beast wrote. "I've also been working with INAH on a fund to support local Mexican archeology and new discoveries because I wanted to help spread the culture as a thanks for allowing us to film."
Layda Elena Sansores, the Governor of Campeche, also released a statement in which she thanked Beast and his team for visiting the city and bringing more attention to it through his platform.
