Legendary actor Pierce Brosnan found himself in a bit of hot water recently -- both legally and almost physically -- after trespassing at a protected and restricted hot spring at Yellowstone National Park.
According to The Daily Wire, the "James Bond" actor pleaded not guilty after being cited in November "over violations at the thermals in the Mammoth Terraces section of the park."
The outlet noted:
A photo allegedly showing Brosnan posing on the snow-encrusted springs was uploaded to a social media account featuring “tourons,” internet slang for tourist morons, per The Daily Mail.
Brosnan was originally ordered to appear at a Wyoming courtroom on Jan. 23. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick must have a soft spot for celebrities, as she ultimately agreed to let him do a virtual hearing, and even rescheduled the virtual appearance for Feb. 20.
Park visitors -- or us regular peasants -- are instructed to steer clear of the protected areas around the spring, as they're prone to damage from being trampled by humans.
That's not to mention the potential dangers of being burned by the springs, which can reach a scalding 161 degrees. Add in the possibility of acid burns on the skin and there's a reason why people who violate the rules are shamed on social media.
Leaving the path of the designated boardwalk can bring fines of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail.
Pierce Brosnan pleads not guilty to trespassing off-limits thermal area at Yellowstone National Park https://t.co/b3EE14b2Xs pic.twitter.com/d7mYBFCU1e
— New York Post (@nypost) January 18, 2024
Given Brosnan's celebrity status and the ability to have top-tier defense lawyers clean up his messes, he'll likely not see any jail time, especially if the judge is already letting him do a virtual appearance and abiding by his schedule.
The National Parks website clearly displays the dangers of entering such areas, and notes that incidents arising from such violations have cost more human lives than anything else at the park.
"Boardwalks and trails protect you and delicate thermal formations," the NPS states on its website.
"Water in hot springs can cause severe or fatal burns, and scalding water underlies most of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs."
Social media users reacted to the news, with many wondering how in the world he could plead not guilty when a photo of him standing on the spring went viral on a popular social media page called "tourons," which is short for "tourist morons."
"How? He filmed it," one X user wrote.
