FOLLOWING a viral TikTok prank featuring an Aboriginal man; his family spoke out in public—describing the misuse of his video as ‘disgusting.’
The original video was originally uploaded by a man named Aurukun man Eric Yunkaporta on his TikTok account three years ago, staring directly at his camera.
Yunkaporta’s video quickly became viral amongst TikTok users even creating the trend “FaceTime prank,” in which creators would film themselves supposedly calling their friend or relative using his video.
The trend had later reached the whole world with Eric being known as the face of the FaceTime prank on TikTok and on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube.
Following its trend, Eric’s cousins Eloise and Leona Yunkaporta of Aurukun community in north Queensland said that the family and the community at large were taken aback upon seeing the video shared on social media.
They came forward and stated that it was considered as bullying and is making a mockery out of their First Nations people. The said trend on Yunkaporta’s expense had also drawn criticism amongst a number First Nation creators, protesting for its removal and denouncing it as discriminatory.
“We got a shock when we saw our cousin’s videos and his image on social media platforms without his knowledge and consent. It’s wrong and it’s not funny,” Leona Yunkaporta said.
“It’s just very upsetting for us to see people making fun of him and he doesn’t even have a clue what’s going on,” Eloise Yunkaporta added. “We’ve explained most of the parts where this has gotten serious and he said, ‘I don’t want that [on there]. I want to take it down.”
Eric Yunkaporta is a well-respected emerging leader in his community, following in his father’s footsteps as one of their clan’s cultural knowledge keepers.
Recently, a Palawa photographer shares a picture of his National Photographic Portrait Prize-winning of Eric Yunkaporta, hoping for people to share to “combat the extreme racism taking place online.”
“I implore everyone to share this photo of Eric Yunkanpora to combat the extreme racism taking place online. Another unflattering photo of him has gone viral as the ‘aboriginal facetime/ticktock prank man’s and we want to show the world this is inappropriate.” He wrote in the caption.
While some content creators have already said sorry for partaking in the trend, Eric’s cousin said that it was a little too late because it has already caused a lot of upset within their family. However, they do appreciate that they have apologized but hope that they won’t do this to someone else.
TikTik spokesperson told ABC that while sharing the content from another user does not breach their community guidelines; they have already taken appropriate action on the situation.
Videos featuring Eric’s face can still be seen on the platform, despite their statement that “some suggestions relating to this topic will also not be visible.”
Users “agree that your content can be used and shared by others on TikTok,” the spokesman added that users can limit this by having their accounts private.
