Irish influencer and YouTuber Dara Tah came under heavy criticism this week after he published a video of his encounter with an Indigenous tribe in Papua, which he described as “terrifying”. The footage, first shared on TikTok, quickly went viral across platforms and triggered widespread debate over cultural exploitation and unsafe tourism.
The video, filmed in a dense jungle setting, opened with the on-screen caption: “We found a cannibal tribe.” As the group’s boat drew closer to the riverbank, several tribesmen could be seen aiming bows and arrows at them.
One of the travellers in Tah’s group was heard saying, “I think they’re pointing bows and arrows at us, bro.” Tah then added, “Seriously, this is terrifying… they’re huge bows.”
Despite the tension, the influencer followed the advice of his guide and attempted to interact with a tribesman. He poured salt into his palm and held it out as an offering. The tribesman briefly tasted the salt before spitting it out. Reacting nervously, Tah remarked, “Oh God, he doesn’t look like he likes that. Alright guys, let’s move back maybe.”
At that point, another member of the party was heard saying, “We have to move. We’re not welcome. It’s really dangerous.” Tah admitted, “I’m not going to lie, that was absolutely terrifying.” The clip ended with the group’s guide apologising, saying, “I’m sorry I take you here.”
On TikTok, where the video was originally shared, Tah captioned the post: “Deep in the jungle of Papua… Just tried to make contact with a cannibal tribe LOL. Will try again tomorrow. Wish us luck.”
Tah, who has publicly declared his ambition to become “Ireland’s biggest YouTuber ever”, is known for producing high-risk travel content that frequently places him in unusual or dangerous situations.
Among his other viral productions were videos titled “Surviving in a Nuclear Bunker”, “Surviving on Snake Island”, and “Exploring the World’s Deadliest Island.” His channel has attracted more than 828,000 subscribers on YouTube and a following of over 750,000 on TikTok.
While the video gained rapid traction, the response online was critical. Many accused Tah of sensationalising encounters with vulnerable Indigenous groups and putting both visitors and locals at risk.
One commentator asked, “Where’s the line between cultural exploration and exploitation?” Another wrote, “Some lines shouldn’t be crossed. Please have some respect.”
A third added, “Sounds wild, but honestly, it’s not surprising he’s getting backlash. Those kinds of visits usually cross into exploitation and can put both the visitors and the tribe at risk.”
Another furious user posted, “YouTubers will never stop surprising me with dumb s**t they do for views.
The controversy surrounding Tah echoed earlier incidents involving outsiders attempting to contact isolated groups. Earlier this year, 24-year-old Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov was arrested in India after he allegedly travelled illegally to North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean, a restricted zone inhabited by the reclusive Sentinelese tribe. Reports claimed he carried offerings including a coconut and a can of Diet Coke in an attempt to make contact.
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