Tyler Oliveira, an American YouTuber with over 8 million subscribers, is facing severe criticism after filming and sharing footage of the Gorehabba festival, a traditional cow dung flinging ritual in a remote Indian village. The video, teasing a longer documentary, has ignited a debate about cultural representation, sensationalism, and the potential perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.
Oliveira, born on January 6, 2000, has been active on YouTube since 2018. Initially, he gained traction with challenge videos before transitioning to "man-on-the-street" interviews and documentary-style content. His channel features videos on a variety of topics, often exploring controversial or unusual subjects. He has previously faced backlash for videos on drug decriminalization in Canada and for allegedly spreading misinformation about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.
The recent controversy stems from Oliveira's documentation of Gorehabba in Gumatapura, a village on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This annual festival, celebrated at the end of Diwali, involves villagers throwing cow dung at each other. Locals believe that the god Beereshwara Swamy was born from cow dung, and that the practice has healing properties.
Oliveira's teaser clip, captioned "Inside India's Poop-Throwing Festival," shows him surrounded by villagers covered in dung, expressing his discomfort and exclaiming, "They are going to kill me". Critics argue that the video sensationalizes the ritual, reducing it to a spectacle for shock value and misrepresenting its cultural significance. They accuse Oliveira of perpetuating a stereotypical narrative of India as "dirty or exotic" for a Western audience. Some have also pointed out that calling it an "Indian" festival is misleading, as it is a localized tradition specific to one village.
This isn't the first time Oliveira's portrayal of India has sparked controversy. Earlier this year, he claimed to have contracted Salmonella despite only eating at five-star hotels, attributing his illness to poor hygiene standards in the country. This led to accusations of reinforcing negative stereotypes about India's sanitation and public health. Oliveira defended himself, stating that addressing hygiene issues is not racist and that he was highlighting the poor quality of life many Indians face.
The Gorehabba video has amplified these existing concerns. Social media users have criticized Oliveira for focusing on the perceived bizarre or unsanitary aspects of the festival without providing adequate context or acknowledging its cultural importance to the local community. Some argue that such portrayals can contribute to a negative perception of India and its traditions, potentially fueling racism and discrimination.
The debate surrounding Oliveira's video raises important questions about the responsibilities of content creators when documenting cultural practices. Critics urge for a more nuanced and respectful approach, emphasizing the need to avoid sensationalism and to provide accurate and contextualized information. As Oliveira prepares to release the full 30-minute video, the controversy is likely to continue, fueling further discussion about cultural sensitivity and ethical filmmaking in the digital age.
As of October 27, 2025, Oliveira has not issued a public apology regarding the Gorehabba video. His YouTube channel boasts 8.26 million subscribers and 575 videos.
