Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: MrBeast in Mexico, the Sidemen in streaming, and also the Met Gala

Welcome to our rundown of the most-watched branded YouTube videos of the week.

We’re publishing this snippet of a larger Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report in order to analyze sponsorship trends in the creator economy. Any video launched in tandem with an official brand partner is eligible for the ranking.

And – as the name up above would imply – all the data comes from Gospel Stats. If you’re interested in learning more about Gospel – and which brands are sponsoring what creators on YouTube – click here.

For the third week running, MrBeast is #1 on our Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report–but the video that put him there isn’t doing so hot. He’s closely followed by the latest Met Gala and the recently-turned-venture-capitalists Sidemen. As for this week’s bonus video? We suggest getting a snack first.

Check ’em all out here:

#1 I Explored 2000 Year Old Ancient Temples

Channel: MrBeast
Brand: Jack Link’s, Feastables
Views: 69,882,427

Welp, this isn’t a good look. The latest installation of MrBeast‘s ongoing sponsorship with Jack Link’s has landed him in hot water with the Mexican government (and Mexican citizens). In I Explored 2000 Year Old Ancient Temples, MrBeast and co. headed to Mexico to explore Mayan heritage sites like the ruins of Chichén Itzá. According to a lawsuit filed by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, MrBeast and his crew got permission to film at the sites, but that permission did not include any commercial promotion/moneymaking attempts. Since MrBeast pushed Jack Link’s and his own chocolate company Feastables while filming–going so far as to call Feastables’ peanut butter bar a “special Mayan dessert” that is “the only Mayan-approved snack on the planet”–the government is suing him for breach of permit.

Backlash about the video didn’t seem to slow it down views-wise, though. At 69 million, it’s right around what MrBeast’s videos usually bring.

#2 Find This Key, Win $10,000
Channel: MrBeast
Brand: DoorDash
Views: 26,956,527

#1 wasn’t MrBeast‘s only top 5 video of the week. He also snatched second place with a Short sponsored by DoorDash (which also sponsored his #1 video from MrBeast Gaming last week). His Short is one of only around ~180 sponsored Shorts this week, commpared to over 2,300 sponsored long-form videos. Brands like DoorDash and Google seem willing to toss money at established creators for Shorts sponsorships, but it seems like Shorts deals haven’t really caught on yet. Maybe brands who want to do short-form sponsors are still looking primarily at TikTok?

#3 Live at Met Gala 2025 With Vogue
Channel: Vogue
Brand: eBay, 1800 Tequila
Views: 15,220,214

In third place we have Vogue‘s official three-hour livestream showing all the luxe looks at this year’s event. The theme for 2025 was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which focused on the intersection of fashion and Black identities. Just like every year, major celebs showed up wrapped in styles from the world’s most well-known designers–and a lot of people at home were digging it. Vogue‘s stream got 15 million views, which is plenty of eyeballs for its sponsors 1800 Tequila and eBay. (Think any of those gowns will pop up for auction after the red carpet? We’re not sure Anna Wintour would approve…)

#4 SIDEMEN LAST TO FALL ASLEEP CHALLENGE
Channel: Sidemen
Brand: Side+
Views: 8,891,806

Sleep deprivation is real torture. But what isn’t torture is how The Sidemen‘s career is going. These six U.K. lads make up one of YouTube’s most-watched content groups, and while they keep plenty busy with their own individual businesses and now their new VC firm, they’re also still absolutely pumping out content–including this MrBeast-style challenge that puts sleep deprivation readiness to the test. It’s sponsored by the guys’ own streaming service, Side+, which is also another page out of the MrBeast book. Is it cool to sponsor your own videos? Who knows, but the business ouroboros seems to be paying off for them.

BONUS #1,528 Where Would You Time-Travel (For the FOOD)? ft. Max Miller
Channel: Mythical Kitchen
Brand: Rosetta Stone, Factor
Views: 54,267

This week’s bonus vid is a YouTuber mashup, with Tasting History host Max Miller visiting the Mythical Kitchen for a tastebud’s trip through bygone eras. Miller is an expert in ancient food, and has made everything from ancient Roman cuisine to biscuits and gravy from the California Gold Rush. Taking all that into consideration, the culinary dervishes at Mythical have just one question for him: If he could time-travel to any point in human history to taste any food he wanted, where would he go? This Q&A is appropriately sponsored by meal kit company Factor and language-learning brand Rosetta Stone, which might help if you need to order a big honkin’ cup of wine in Latin.

…and there’s a lot more data where that came from. If you’re interested in learning more about Gospel – and which brands are sponsoring what creators on YouTube – click here.