An American woman on TikTok has received death threats for "sexualizing" a digeridoo by pretending to pole dance with it.
In a now-deleted video shared last week, Belle Arvie, from Jacksonville, Florida, can be seen dancing up and down the sacred Australian instrument as well as pretending to play it by lip-syncing to the song "Do It To It" by DJ Acraze.
Wearing a vest top and jeans, the woman gyrates on the long instrument as an automated voice states: "Adding Aboriginal flavor."
Arvie, who is a reiki practitioner, could be seen smiling and laughing in the clip.
However, hours later an Australian woman called Marion, who goes by the account name Itty_bitty_baby, stitched on to the video asking her to take it down.
Marion, who describes herself as a "gunaikurnai/djabwarrung/Yuin woman" filmed herself speaking into the camera, in a video seen by Newsweek which has since also been deleted.
She exclaimed: "Honestly, it is f***ing disgusting for women like you to disrespect our most sacred f***ing lores... but you go and sexualize one of our most sacred tool. I'm not labeling this as racism, I'm labeling this as complete disrespect to my culture."
She also went on to explain that if Arvie was Aboriginal she would know that "playing the yidaki is only men's business not women's."
But why is this the case? Well, Dr. Mark Rose of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association explained to Australia's ABC News that the consequences of a girl touching a didgeridoo can be relatively extreme.
He said: "Infertility would be the start of it ranging to other consequences. I won't even let my daughter touch one.... as cultural respect. And we know it's men's business. In our times there are men's business and women's business, and the didgeridoo is definitely a men's business ceremonial tool."
Marion's video was captioned: "take the video down, as it is EXTREMELY DISRECPTFUL! #culturalappropriation #disrespectful #Aboriginalculture."
Shared on December 31, the clip had garnered more than 419,400 views and 74,200 likes.
Many people also rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts on the situation.
One TikToker, Sari, wrote: "I have secondhand embarrassment."
Another person, Red, added: "I'm not Aboriginal and know this. felt sick watching that. culture matters."
@belle_arvie #duet with @itty_bitty_baby spreading awareness 💚
♬ original sound - Marion
Arvie also shared her own clip revealing some of the "death threats" she received for her dance, including a comment by one user who wrote: "You won't be a survivor of anything if you don't take down the TT of you and the didge. Disrespectful Mutt."
Another user stated: "I'm going to push you in a pool of boiling water if you don't take that video down." A third user said: "Imma go shooting but not shooting targets."
On January 3 Arvie deleted her video, posting an apology, which can be watched here, where she pledged to spread awareness on the topic.
She wrote: "I've removed my video out of respect because I am American and unaware of the sacredness behind this instrument. Here's a reminder to those like me that I had/have no idea. Lesson learned."
The two women also discussed the issue on an Instagram Live and following this, Marion called for everyone to "stop harassing" Arvie as she has "understood" and is "very apologetic."
Speaking to Newsweek, Arvie explained: "I hope that this lesson encourages others to respect and hear the voices of our Indigenous people. I am sorry for unknowingly disrespecting the Aboriginal community of Australia."
Newsweek has contacted Marion for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
