Luciano Huck criticised over request to 'clean up' Indigenous culture ^{CEFR B1}

Luciano Huck filmed an episode at Parque Indígena do Xingu in Mato Grosso in August. A behind-the-scenes clip posted on Instagram almost four months later showed him beside singer Anitta and quickly went viral, sparking debate about how non-Indigenous people portray native communities.

The clip, about a minute and 20 seconds long, shows Indigenous visitors taking photos and using mobile phones. In the video Huck calls out "Cell phone!", asks people wearing "non-traditional clothes" to step away and tells those present to "clean up your culture," arguing phones could make their culture seem less authentic. An Indigenous man in the scene translates the message to his community.

Several Indigenous organisations, including Apib and regional groups, published a joint Instagram statement. They said Indigenous cultures do not need to be "cleaned up" and criticised treating people as objects for "pretty pictures." The statement also argued that technology helps groups monitor territories, access education and work, communicate with other communities and report rights violations. Apib republished the message and expressed "indignation." Huck replied that he was misunderstood and that the request was an art direction decision on a film set.