The Wiggles have responded to backlash after a video clip featuring a song about a popular Indian cuisine resurfaced on social media, with many users labelling the catchy tune as being an offensive stereotype of Indian culture.
'The Pappadum Song', which was first released back in 2014, was originally featured in an episode of Ready, Steady, Wiggle! titled 'Lachy's Pappadum Party', and features Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie as he is joined by his fellow Wiggles, who are dressed in Indian-inspired clothing while singing 'pappadum, pappadum, pappa pappa pappa dum'.
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As the clip surfaced, several users pointed out the cultural insensitivity of the video, with one viewer tweeting: "Let me understand...'Indian' representation = a trippy song about 'Pappa-dum' (it's papadaam FYI) + white guys wearing silk kurtas + holding a plastic cricket bat + a mute and horrified Indian (?) woman with a forced smile through it all?? Who said yes to this? On what drugs?"
Another noted the fact that the only Indian woman to feature in the clip had no singing parts whatsoever.
"Why is the poor Indian girl the only one that wasn't given a singing part?!? I can't 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."
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Since the drama unfolded, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field has taken to Twitter to apologise for the song, which he said was meant to be 'a celebration' of Indian culture.
He tweeted: "I wrote the song, and directed the clip in 2014 (which was meant as a celebration), it was not my intention to be culturally insensitive to the Indian community, or to add value to ethnic stereotyping. Apologies."
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The apology was met with mixed responses, with one fan writing to the longtime Wiggle: "Anthony, I don't see any reason to apologise. People just get worked up over everything nowadays and find any little reason to get offended by something."
Another said: "A reluctant new convert to the Wiggles show here (courtesy: young son) and am also an Indian. Love this show and this song. Cannot see what the fuss is about a children's show! There are loads of other cultures being portrayed there.. in a funny singsong way."
Others suggested that, in future, the group look for feedback from those within the cultures they're singing about.
One person wrote: "So what was your intention then? Difficult to see any point to this. Maybe next time actually run your sketch past a member of the community it's referencing & get some feedback?"
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Field seemed to take the suggestion on board, replying to the Twitter user: "For sure!"
Featured Image Credit: ABC Australia