Actor Pierce Brosnan has been making headlines recently for allegedly breaking the rules at Yellowstone National Park. The 70-year-old James Bond star has been charged with two violations, including Foot Travel in a Thermal Area and Closure Violation, after he was caught on camera allegedly wandering into a dangerous hot spring at the park in November 2023.
Brosnan has pleaded not guilty to the charges, submitting his plea via a paper filing in the Wyoming District Court. The actor was scheduled to appear in court on January 23, but has requested a virtual conference instead, which has been rescheduled for February 20. Brosnan was seen standing on the delicate and protected area of the Mammoth Terraces in Yellowstone in a personal photo uploaded to an account exposing ‘tourons’ (tourist morons) of the park.
Yellowstone National Park is known for its stunning beauty and unique natural features, but it is also a volatile and dangerous environment. The park is home to geysers, hot springs, and bubbling mudpots, with water temperatures that can reach scalding levels. These features are not only dangerous, but they are also fragile, with the potential to take years to correct if damaged. At least 22 people have died from burns sustained in Yellowstone’s springs and geysers, with numerous others injured in similar incidents.
Brosnan is just the latest tourist to try to bend the rules at the park. In 2015, Colin Nathaniel Scott is believed to have dissolved in a hot acidic spring after leaving the designated walkway at Norris Geyser Basin. Another tragic incident involved 70-year-old Il Hun Ro, whose foot was found by a National Parks employee after he apparently fell into a thermal area. In 2021, a Connecticut woman was jailed, fined, and banned from Yellowstone for two years after she left the walkway and approached one of the park’s thermal features.
Federal rules stipulate that visitors must stay on designated walkways in national parks. Venturing off the boardwalk is a punishable offense, with a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Despite being aware of the potential dangers of Yellowstone’s hot springs, Brosnan chose to ignore the rules and put himself at risk by wandering off the designated walkway.
Brosnan had been in the area filming ‘The Unholy Trinity,’ a Western co-starring Samuel L. Jackson, when the alleged violations occurred. In a strange twist of fate, Brosnan himself had previously starred in a film that highlights the potential dangers of hot springs – 1997’s ‘Dante’s Peak.’ In the film, Brosnan plays a volcanologist who comes across two people who have been boiled to death in a hot spring, demonstrating the tragic consequences of ignoring safety rules in Yellowstone.
James Bond star Pierce Brosnan pleads not guilty to walking into protected Yellowstone hot spring https://t.co/Wy7GiwRvcw
— LBC (@LBC) January 17, 2024
The video of Brosnan’s apparent violation comes just months after another shocking video emerged of a couple attempting to touch 175-degree geysers at Yellowstone. In the clip, a woman can be seen screaming in pain as she plunges her hand into a hot spring. Such incidents highlight the disregard some tourists have for the rules and the potential danger they put themselves in by trying to get close to the park’s features.
Yellowstone National Park officials have expressed their disappointment in Brosnan’s actions, stating that they are dangerous not only for the individual but also for the delicate ecosystem of the park. The park’s unique features are a national treasure and must be protected for future generations to enjoy. It is our responsibility as visitors to follow the rules and respect the fragility and danger of Yellowstone’s hot springs and geysers.
Pierce Brosnan may be known for his iconic roles in movies and TV shows, but he is not above the rules and regulations of national parks. Yellowstone is a breathtaking natural wonder, but it must also be treated with caution and respect. Only time will tell what the consequences of his actions will be and how it will affect his future visits to Yellowstone.
