Luciano Huck criticised over request to 'clean up' Indigenous cultureCEFR A2
20 Dec 2025
Adapted from Global Voices Brazil, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by gustavo nacht, Unsplash
In August, TV host Luciano Huck filmed an episode at Parque Indígena do Xingu in Mato Grosso. Almost four months later a short behind-the-scenes clip posted on Instagram showed him beside singer Anitta and viral debate followed about how non-Indigenous people view native communities.
The clip, about a minute and twenty seconds long, shows Indigenous visitors taking photos and using mobile phones. In the video Huck calls out "Cell phone!" and asks people wearing non-traditional clothes to step away. He then says to "clean up your culture," and an Indigenous man in the video translates the request to his community.
Indigenous organisations, including Apib, published a joint statement saying cultures do not need to be "cleaned up" and that access to technology should be a right. Huck replied on his Instagram stories and said he was misunderstood and that it was an art direction decision.
Difficult words
- indigenous — Original peoples of a region or countrynon-Indigenous
- viral — Spreading quickly and widely online
- debate — A public discussion with different opinions
- culture — Shared beliefs, customs and daily lifecultures
- technology — Tools and machines like phones or computers
- statement — A public written or spoken message
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How would you feel if someone told you to "clean up your culture"? Why?
- Do you think people should use mobile phones when they visit cultural places? Explain.
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