The Wiggles vow to make more ‘culturally appropriate’ music amid Pappadum backlash

Australian children’s group The Wiggles have vowed to create ‘culturally appropriate’ music after their song Pappadum went viral on Twitter six years after it was released. 

In the video clip from 2014, the group are dressed in traditional Indian clothing while waving pappadums and dancing. 

In a statement published by HuffPost Canada, the band explained the intention ‘was for the song to be a celebration’ and said all their future music will be ‘recorded in an authentic way’.

‘We endeavour to deal with members of our community – regardless of age, gender, cultural background, religion, or sexuality – professionally, fairly and respectfully, at all times,’ The Wiggles said.

 ‘We will endeavour to ensure that our future songs and collaborations are performed and recorded in an authentic and culturally appropriate way.’

The children’s band also explained the ‘intention was for the song to be a celebration not to be culturally insensitive’.

This comes after Blue Wiggles Anthony Field, who wrote the song and directed the clip, apologised for ‘ethnic stereotyping’.

When asked by a Twitter user whether Pappadum was his ‘creative brainchild’, Anthony responded: ‘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.’

Pappadum became the subject of heated debate on Twitter last week when a woman shared the video and wrote: ‘To be clear, this was not the representation I wanted.’

The clip has since been viewed more than one million times and many Twitter users have criticised the stereotypical portrayal of Indian culture.

But it’s important to note that The Wiggles are children’s entertainers and the way in which they communicate different cultures to their young audience must be simplistic in order to be understood.

As a result, their songs about different cultures may lack nuance when viewed by adults more attuned to matters of racial and cultural sensitivity.

‘This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen. Poor girl just smiling the whole time… why can’t The Wiggles go back to making fruit salad?’ one person wrote, referencing one of the band’s famous songs.

Another said the video used stereotypes and compared it to the group’s song Hot Potato, which they jokingly suggested was ‘anti-Irish’. 

The video for Pappadum begins with band member Simon Pryce holding a flatbread and rhythmically singing ‘pappadum’ over and over again.

The other band members, including Lachlan Gillespie, Anthony Field and Emma Watkins, then start singing along.

Emma continues repeating the word ‘pappadum’ and holding the bread in the air.

Anthony then starts swinging a cricket bat around, representing India’s fixation with the sport, while his co-stars continue dancing behind him.