Back in January Pierce Brosnan pleaded not guilty to two charges of trespassing in a thermal spring area of Yellowstone National Park. It was a bold choice for Bond, considering there was photographic evidence of him standing in the restricted zone, that local Instagram account @touronsofyellowstone (tourist + moron = touron) posted for posterity/penalty. It seems Pierce decided not to lie another day; he’s now switched to a guilty plea, agreed to pay two separate fines, and issued an apology on his own Instagram account. “Bad. My Bad.”
Pierce Brosnan is apologizing after pleading guilty to foot travel in a thermal area during a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park.
“As an environmentalist I have the utmost respect for and love of our natural world,” the former James Bond actor, 70, shared in an Instagram post on Thursday.
“However, I made an impulsive mistake — one that I do not take lightly — when entering a thermal area covered in snow in Yellowstone National Park to take a photograph,” he continued, adding that he didn’t see a “no trespassing” sign to warn him of danger and noted that he did not hike in the area.
Brosnan ended his post by saying, “I deeply regret my transgression and offer my heartfelt apologies to all for trespassing in this sensitive area. Yellowstone and all our National Parks are to be cared for and preserved for all to enjoy. #StayOnThePath.”
The “Mamma Mia!” actor was fined $500, required to pay $1000 to the Yellowstone Forever Geological Fund and cited other fines by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick on March 14 in Mammoth, Wyoming, according to a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Brosnan pleaded guilty to foot travel in a thermal area within a Yellowstone National Park thermal feature at Mammoth Hot Springs after, according to court documents cited in the press release. He posted photos to Instagram on or about Nov. 1, 2023, of him standing in an off-limits area.
“There are signs posted in the area that warn visitors of the dangers of thermal features and state that visitors must remain on the designated boardwalks and trails,” the press release said. “The National Park Service (NPS) reminds Yellowstone visitors that the ground in thermal areas is fragile and thin, and scalding water is just below the surface.”
“Therefore, trespassing on thermal features in dangerous and can
harm delicate natural resources within the park,” the press release continued, adding that the park was “established primarily to protect these hydrothermal areas” and NPS encouraged visitors to “exercise extreme caution” and remain in designated paths while exploring these areas.
He’s an environmentalist! He definitely wouldn’t have trespassed if he’d only seen the posted signs! That LOL aside, I think Pierce is handling himself well here. He’s fessing up for his messing up, and sounds pretty sincere to me. He just should have been doing this from the beginning. Pierce originally going with a not guilty plea was his most inexplicable decision since he voluntarily accepted a singing role — twice! And when all was said and done, Pierce only has to pay $1,500. I think he can afford that. I do kind of love it, though, that dashing, world-traveled movie star Pierce Brosnan was put in his place by… the state of Wyoming. “No, Mr. Bond. We expect you NOT to die from crashing through the surface into scalding hot water.”
Photos via Instagram and credit Getty Images for Netflix/The Out-Laws