On May 10, American YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, published a video titled "I Survived 100 Hours Inside an Ancient Temple," in which he explores archaeological sites in Mexico, including Chichén Itzá, Calakmul, and Balankanché. He claimed he would use a drone to see the interior of the Temple of Kukulcán, an area with restricted access.
According to Milenio, the video quickly went viral, accumulating more than 52 million views in less than three days and generating debates on social media regarding his access to restricted areas.
Many users on X (formerly Twitter) questioned why Donaldson was allowed to record when Mexican nationals and even researchers are denied that access. One comment read, "Mexicans are prohibited from entering our ruins, but a millionaire foreigner can do whatever he wants." Another user stated, "It makes me angry that he can enter the pyramids and we, as true Mexicans, will never be able to enter."
Some comments accused the authorities of allowing a violation of the rules because Donaldson is an international figure with millions of followers. "How much money did he pay to be able to enter there? Welcome to the world of corruption," one user wrote. Others pointed out that even researchers do not have access to the areas that Donaldson toured.
In response to the criticism, the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) issued a statement clarifying that Donaldson's visit and recording were carried out with the corresponding permits, managed by the federal Secretariat of Tourism and the state governments of Yucatán and Campeche, and under institutional supervision.
INAH noted that its personnel supervised the recording to ensure care and security measures were respected, ensuring no impact on the archaeological heritage. The INAH clarified that no drone flights were conducted inside El Castillo at Chichén Itzá, stating that "such flight was carried out outside the structure," and denied that Donaldson's team descended from a helicopter at the site. They emphasized that "the video has extensive audiovisual post-production work and alludes to events that did not occur," including false claims about descending from a helicopter.
The Mexican Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic, and Historical Monuments and Zones prohibits climbing or damaging structures at most archaeological sites, a measure implemented by the INAH in 2008 for conservation and safety. Mexican legislation establishes penalties ranging from economic fines to prison sentences for damaging or intervening in cultural heritage, with fines varying between 5,000 and 50,000 pesos depending on the offense. However, Calakmul is one of the few areas where climbing certain structures is still allowed, and there are at least three Maya structures where it is permitted to ascend the stone stairs. Donaldson also visited Chichén Itzá and Balankanché, where stricter restrictions exist.
The INAH specified that the mask seen in the video is a current reproduction, not a pre-Hispanic artifact. They stated that the tours were conducted mostly through areas of public access and did not affect the entry of other visitors, including a visit to the substructure of Building II at Calakmul, which is accessible by prior arrangement. The filming permits were formally requested by official institutions from the states of Campeche and Yucatán, managed by the Federal Secretariat of Tourism, and processed before the National Coordination of Legal Affairs of the INAH, complying with legal requirements established for filming in archaeological zones.
Donaldson began his career on the platform with videos about video games and entertainment-related content. He became famous for organizing extreme challenges, donating large sums of money, and performing philanthropic acts. His channel has broken records for the number of views and the virality of his videos.
In addition to his success on the video platform, MrBeast has expanded his brand to other business projects. He founded initiatives like Beast Burger, a chain of virtual restaurants, and has participated in charitable causes such as ocean cleanup and support for disadvantaged communities. His style of entertainment, which combines action, generosity, and large productions, has captured worldwide attention and made him one of the most influential figures in the digital realm.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.