In December 2023, the US District Court in Wyoming cited actor Pierce Brosnan for violating regulations that restrict access to delicate thermal areas in the Yellowstone National Park. The citations came after Brosnan shared a photo depicting him to be standing on a white crust that looked like some of the attractions in the park.
According to the court documents, Brosnan was cited for traveling on foot in areas within the park that are closed and off-limits to the public. According to regulations, thermal areas such as hot springs, geysers, and mud pots are closed to the public because they “may be only a thin crust above boiling hot springs,” and the park administration cannot guarantee that they are safe. The public, however, is allowed to traverse only in established pathways.
On his part, Brosnan denied the citations. He pleaded not guilty to the charges lodged against him, saying he did not violate any regulations while hiking in Yellowstone’s hot springs. Brosnan was in Wyoming to shoot a Western movie at the Yellowstone Film Ranch when the purported photo was taken.
