A member of the hit Australian children’s musical group The Wiggles has apologised after a clip from 2014 was deemed “culturally insensitive”.
“The Pappadum Song” was originally featured on the Wiggle House release, and sees purple Wiggle Lachlan sing the word “pappadum” over and over again, alongside the other Wiggles, who are wearing Indian-inspired clothing.
An Indian woman also appears prominently in the clip, although she doesn’t join in the singing.
The song circulated on social media, after one user posted it with the caption: “To be clear, this was not the representation I wanted.”
“Why is the poor Indian girl the only one that wasn't given a singing part?!?” asked one commenter. “I can understand if she didn't want to sing, but if it wasn't that, I mean - bizarre. The others sing around her and she just smiles awkwardly the entire time.”
“It's a bunch of white people dressed up as Indians (poorly) singing 'papadum' over and over,” wrote someone else. “The only person not singing or speaking is the only Indian (it appears) woman. It's pretty damn offensive.”
Anthony Field, who plays the blue Wiggle, has since apologised for the song, arguing that it was intended as a “celebration” of Indian culture.
“I wrote the song, and directed the clip in 2014 (which was meant as a celebration),” he wrote on Twitter.
“It was not my intention to be culturally insensitive to the Indian community, or to add value to ethnic stereotyping. Apologies.”
