Angry viewers have slammed The Block and accused the reality show of ‘cultural appropriation.’
The accusations came after Tuesday’s episode featured an art challenge that tasked the five teams with designing artwork for a surfboard to be displayed in their homes.
And it was Ricky and Haydn’s ‘Indigenous-style design’ that drew the ire of many fans.
The pair explained that their design was inspired by a similar piece called Saltwater Dreamtime by Indigenous artist Zachary Bennett-Brook.
Sensing a potential backlash, Ricky said: ‘I hope they’re not offensive to the culture if it’s that bad. But hopefully they’ll see the inspiration that we’ve drawn from it.’
Judge Darren Palmer appeared speechless when he stood in front of the completed artwork.
‘This is very orange and it’s also got some tones of Indigenous art to it, so that’s interesting,’ Darren said.
Struggling to find words, he continued: ‘Yeah it’s a lot.’
Angry viewers have slammed The Block accusing the reality show and Channel Nine of ‘cultural appropriation’
It appeared that viewers agreed with Darren’s assessment with many taking to Instagram to voice their displeasure.
‘I hope one of the boys is first nation. Otherwise you need to take this down and apologise,’ one fan wrote.
Another slammed Channel Nine saying: ‘Does channel 9 have anyone with cultural competency training on staff? How on earth did this go to air?’
Ricky and Haydn’s ‘Indigenous-style design’ drew the ire of many fans
The pair explained that their design was inspired by a similar piece called Saltwater Dreamtime by Indigenous artist Zachary Bennett-Brook
Another fan chimed in with a similar sentiment adding that they were ‘extremely disappointed’ that no producers stepped in to educate the pair on cultural appropriation.’
‘Extremely disappointing no one in production stepped to let Ricky and Haydn know that replicating Indigenous art is inappropriate and cultural appropriation,’ they wrote.
Yet another augmented the feeling of many with: ‘We’ve stolen their land and much more …why do you feel the need to steal their culture and art too? Stop. This is culturally inappropriate.’
‘I hope one of the boys is first nation. Otherwise you need to take this down and apologise,’ one fan wrote on Instagram
Despite the backlash, some fans defended Ricky and Haydn’s ‘Indigenous-style design’.
‘If you think about it, art is supposed to push boundaries, spark conversation and evoke feeling… with that in mind the boys win for sure! great work fellas,’ one said.
‘We’re all bloody Aussies. Great job guys. I really like it personally, and Indigenous people should be flattered that the boys had them in mind,’ another wrote.
A spokesperson for Nine told news.com.au that Ricky and Haydn had been guided by a ‘traditional owner of the land’ in the artwork’s creation.
‘Ricky and Haydn’s surfboard is a piece inspired by First Nations artists. Ricky and Haydn reached out to a traditional owner of the land who guided them on the protocols around interpreting indigenous art,’ the spokesperson said.
‘The artwork was inspired by, but never intended to be a mimic of an original indigenous artwork.’
