Petition urges 'Maze Runner' cast to apologize for stealing artifacts on set

ALBUQUERQUE, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- A petition urging the cast of 20th Century Fox's Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials to apologize and return stolen Native American artifacts is close to reaching 45,000 signatures.

Launched by Maeve Cunningham, the Care2 petition was set in motion on behalf of the Pueblo people, after actor Dylan O'Brien revealed cast members at the film's New Mexico set took objects from burial grounds despite being explicitly asked not to do so.

After various artifacts were taken from the site, which had not been used as a filming location before, O'Brien told hosts on Live with Kelly & Michael several setbacks began taking place on set -- especially illness and injury -- which was blamed on a "curse."

"They said basically, 'Don't take anything and respect the grounds," the actor said in the Sept. 15 interview about the caretakers of a ranch near Pacitas, N.M.. "They were very strict about littering -- and [said] don't take any artifacts, rocks, skulls, anything like that....everyone just takes stuff, obviously."

The 24-year-old actor initially caused a chuckle among hosts and audience members, as he claimed to be among those who stole objects. Others, however, were angered by the casts' disregard.

"While O'Brien plays it for laughs, talking about bringing a Native American curse on cast, his flip treatment of the crew's actions is outrageous," petition writer Cunningham said. Talking to the Santa Fe New Mexican, she said an apology "would make a good statement about how to treat other people, including Native Americans, and stress that someone's culture isn't a joke...It would make me even a bigger fan [of O'Brien] if he apologizes."

Rumblings of a "curse," Cunningham asserts, is an additional part of the prejudice Native Americans already experience. "That's just more mocking of Native American culture," she said.