INAH says security intervened after Bad Bunny touched artifact

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History has responded to online outrage after Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny touched a historic artifact during a museum visit.

Bad Bunny, whose legal name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, had shared photographs to his Instagram Stories last week of a hooded figure believed to be the singer touching an ancient stone stele on display, Mexico’s El Universal newspaper reported.

The image was widely shared online, with commenters accusing the museum of “hypocrisy” for allowing him to handle the artifact and condemning Bad Bunny for “taking advantage” of his celebrity status, according to posts reviewed by Urgent Matter.

“Once again, it is clear that people with money are allowed to do whatever they want,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.

The INAH said in a statement Saturday that the incident took place on December 17 while museum security was present throughout the tour.

“When the artist placed his hand on the stele, museum security personnel reiterated that the pieces could not be touched, at which point the musician removed his hand,” the museum said. “As is public knowledge, physical contact with archaeological artifacts is prohibited.”

As noted by El Universal, Bad Bunny's case came after a similar incident this year in which YouTuber MrBeast filmed inside Zona Arqueológica de Calakmul, a Mayan archaeological site, in an area that is not open to the public.

But concerned commenters did not accept the museum’s statement.

“In the MrBeast’s case, it was announced that there would be sanctions, but we never found out what they were,” that commenter said, pointing to news reports of Campeche Gov. Layda Sansores giving away MrBeast-branded chocolate bars during a recent state-of-the-state address.

“We will have to be patient until the INAH rids itself of the nepotism and dishonesty of those who make it up. Mexican culture and heritage should not be reserved only for those who can afford it.”