Bad Bunny Touches Ancient Stele, INAH Issues Warning

Mexico City, Mexico — The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) issued a warning to Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny after he placed his hand on an exposed stele at the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City.

During his stay in Mexico, Bad Bunny concluded his tour titled “Debí tirar más fotos” and engaged in various activities outside the musical realm. The artist recounted on social media visits to lucha libre and the Casa Azul, the museum dedicated to Frida Kahlo, as well as a tour of the National Anthropology Museum on Wednesday, December 17, a date confirmed by INAH.

What Did INAH Say?

Despite the institution having reiterated on numerous occasions, even at archaeological sites and museums themselves, that historical pieces cannot come into contact with any external material (including humans) as they can be damaged, the singer reportedly broke these rules during his recent visit.

Following the incident, the Institute revealed that during the tour, museum security personnel warned the artist that touching archaeological pieces is not permitted; after the instruction, the musician removed his hand from the artwork.

Bad Bunny himself shared the scene by posting a photograph on his Instagram stories where he appears next to the stele, which lacks protective display cases. From that moment, the image circulated across various digital platforms, sparking controversy on social media about the behavior of public figures in Mexican cultural spaces. The controversy remains active after three days.

In its response regarding the incident with Bad Bunny, INAH emphasized through its social media the existence of clear rules in Mexican museums and archaeological zones. The presence of security personnel aims to ensure compliance with policies that prohibit physical contact with archaeological assets, an indispensable measure to preserve both the integrity and value of the pieces on display.

The institution revealed that the singer did indeed commit violations of the protocols, but did not specify whether there would be any sanction.

Other Controversies Involving Archaeological Remains

The controversy surrounding contact with historical pieces revived memories of the case involving YouTuber MrBeast, who filmed in the archaeological zone of Calakmul, a site not open to the public.

In May, the federal Secretary of Culture announced it would take legal action against the American content creator for falseness in his video “I Survived 100 Hours in an Ancient Temple,” in which he accessed restricted areas such as Chichén Itzá, Calakmul, and Balamcanché, used a helicopter to travel between sites, spent the night in prohibited archaeological zones, and introduced a drone into the Pyramid of Kukulkán. These acts, documented in the video, provoked significant public debate and questions about the protection of historical heritage.

The recent warning is part of the ongoing effort to prevent any visitor, including media-relevant personalities, from directly interacting with historical heritage, keeping the prohibition of physical contact in these cultural spaces in force.