Irish travel influencer Dara Tah has sparked widespread outrage following a TikTok video posted on August 15, 2025, in which he documented an encounter with an Indigenous tribe in Papua, Indonesia. The video, which has garnered nearly 18 million views, shows Tah and a group of tourists approaching a riverside community by boat, offering salt as a “peace offering” to tribesmen he labeled a “cannibal tribe.” The stunt has drawn sharp criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes, exploiting Indigenous communities, and potentially endangering both the visitors and the tribe.
The Controversial Encounter in Papua
The viral TikTok video begins with Tah and his group, accompanied by a local guide named Demi, navigating a wooden boat along a river in Papua, the Indonesian province encompassing the western half of New Guinea. As their boat approaches the riverbank, several tribesmen, armed with bows, arrows, and spears, appear, with one visibly aiming a large bow at the vessel. A tourist in the group nervously remarks, “I think they’re pointing bows and arrows at us, bro,” to which Tah responds, “Seriously, this is terrifying… they’re huge bows.”
Despite the apparent tension, Tah, following Demi’s advice, attempts to ease the situation by offering packets of salt as a gesture of goodwill. Tah pours salt into his palm and extends it toward a tribesman, who tastes it and immediately spits it out, showing clear dissatisfaction. Tah reacts nervously, saying, “Oh God, he doesn’t look like he likes that. Alright guys, let’s move back maybe.”
Another member of the group urges retreat, stating, “We have to move. We’re not welcome. It’s really dangerous.” As the boat pulls away, Tah admits, “I’m not going to lie, that was absolutely terrifying,” while Demi apologizes, saying, “I’m sorry I take you here.” The video’s caption reads, “Deep in the jungle of Papua… Just tried to make contact with a cannibal tribe LOL Will try again tomorrow. Wish us luck,” accompanied by hashtags like #cannibal, #tribe, #adventure, #deadly, and #survival.
#Irish YouTuber’s Risky Stunt Sparks Outrage in Papua
— Uncensored News (@Uncensorednewsw) August 29, 2025
Dara Tah, an Irish influencer aiming to be Ireland’s top YouTuber, faces intense criticism after posting a viral TikTok video from Papua, Indonesia.
The clip, labeled “#cannibal tribe” contact, has amassed 18 million views but… pic.twitter.com/h8iYbkddYD
The video’s sensational framing, particularly the use of the term “cannibal tribe,” has fueled much of the backlash. Papua is home to over 250 culturally distinct Indigenous groups, each with unique traditions and languages. While historical speculation about cannibalism, notably among the Asmat people in South Papua linked to the 1961 disappearance of Michael Rockefeller, has persisted, modern Papuan communities emphasize their peaceful lifestyles. Tah’s decision to label the tribe as cannibals, coupled with the casual tone of his caption, has been widely criticized as misleading and disrespectful.
Public Backlash and Accusations of Exploitation
The online reaction to Tah’s video was swift and overwhelmingly negative, with viewers accusing him of exploiting Indigenous communities for social media clout. Comments on the TikTok post, which has been liked over half a million times, include sentiments like, “Leave them alone and they are not cannibals!” and “They are just people living a peaceful life.” Critics argue that Tah’s stunt reinforces harmful stereotypes about Papua’s Indigenous populations, portraying them as dangerous and primitive for the sake of viral content.
One user questioned, “Where’s the line between cultural exploration and exploitation?” while another stated, “This is how you took our ancestors and land by offering them salt, biscuits and coke,” drawing parallels to colonial-era exploitation. Some viewers have gone further, alleging that the encounter was staged. Comments such as “This is obviously staged” and “The boat owner guy found guys in the bar then paid them to act like tribesmen” suggest skepticism about the authenticity of the interaction.
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Critics note that many remote Papuan communities have adopted modern clothing and conventions, questioning why the tribesmen in Tah’s video were depicted in traditional attire. One commenter remarked, “Remote Papua New Guineans who live in isolated rural communities don’t dress like this anymore. However, some still wear tangets over their normal clothing, typically a shirt and trousers or skirts & blouses for the ladies.” These accusations align with broader concerns about influencers staging dramatic scenarios to exaggerate the “exotic” nature of their travels.
The backlash also draws comparisons to past incidents involving outsiders attempting to contact isolated tribes. For example, in 2018, American evangelist John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese tribe on North Sentinel Island after attempting to convert them to Christianity. In early 2025, travel influencer Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was arrested for illegally approaching the same island with offerings like a coconut and a can of Diet Coke.
These cases highlight the dangers of uninvited contact, both for the visitors and the tribes, who risk exposure to diseases to which they have no immunity. Tah’s critics argue that his actions, even if not illegal, were reckless and disrespectful, potentially endangering lives for the sake of views.
Ethical Questions and the Pursuit of Viral Content
Dara Tah, who has amassed over 828,000 YouTube subscribers and 750,000 TikTok followers, is no stranger to high-risk content. His channel features videos with titles like “Surviving on Snake Island,” “Exploring the World’s Deadliest Island,” and “Surviving in a Nuclear Bunker,” reflecting his brand as a thrill-seeker aiming to become “Ireland’s biggest YouTuber ever.” While his content often involves dangerous or unusual settings, the Papua video has been singled out for crossing ethical boundaries.
The controversy raises broader questions about the responsibilities of influencers and the impact of their content on vulnerable communities. One key issue is the perpetuation of stereotypes. By labeling the tribesmen as a “cannibal tribe,” Tah taps into outdated myths that have long plagued Papua’s Indigenous groups.
The Asmat, for instance, have been subject to speculation about cannibalism since the Rockefeller case, but anthropologists and local communities emphasize that such practices, if they ever occurred, are not representative of modern Papuan life. Tah’s video risks reinforcing these misconceptions, presenting the tribe as a spectacle rather than a community with its own agency and culture. This approach, critics argue, reduces Indigenous people to props for entertainment, echoing colonial-era narratives that exoticized and dehumanized non-Western cultures.
Another concern is the safety of such interactions. Contact with isolated tribes can introduce diseases to which they have no immunity, as seen historically during European colonization of the Americas. Tah’s decision to approach the tribe, even with a guide, and his stated intention to “try again tomorrow” suggest a disregard for these risks.
The guide’s apology and the group’s retreat indicate that the encounter was unwelcome, yet Tah’s lighthearted caption and plan to return frame the incident as an adventure rather than a serious cultural misstep. This attitude has led to accusations of “dumb s**t for views,” with viewers arguing that Tah prioritizes viral fame over respect for the communities he encounters.
The controversy also highlights the role of social media platforms in amplifying problematic content. The video’s 17.8 million views and widespread sharing across platforms like X demonstrate the allure of sensationalist content, even when it perpetuates harm. Some viewers have called for platforms to take action against such videos, arguing that they glorify exploitative behavior. However, others defend Tah’s right to create content, viewing his actions as a form of cultural exploration.
This divide underscores the ongoing debate about where to draw the line between adventure and exploitation in the age of influencer-driven media. Dara Tah’s TikTok video has ignited a firestorm of criticism, exposing the ethical pitfalls of thrill-seeking travel content. By labeling an Indigenous Papuan tribe as cannibals and filming a tense encounter for social media, Tah has been accused of exploiting vulnerable communities, perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and risking lives for clout.
The backlash reflects growing public awareness of the responsibilities influencers bear when engaging with cultures different from their own. While Tah’s ambition to become “Ireland’s biggest YouTuber” drives his content, this incident serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of prioritizing views over respect and safety.
The controversy also prompts reflection on the broader impact of social media tourism. As influencers chase viral moments, they must navigate the fine line between exploration and exploitation, ensuring their content does not harm the communities they feature.
For now, Tah’s promise to “try again tomorrow” has left many uneasy, with calls for him to reconsider his approach and prioritize cultural sensitivity. As Papua’s Indigenous communities continue to assert their right to live free from misrepresentation, the global audience watching these videos must also demand accountability from creators like Tah, ensuring that adventure does not come at the cost of dignity.