Family of Aboriginal man whose face has become viral trend slam ‘disgusting’ TikTok users for using his videos

Warning: This article contains discussion of racial discrimination which some readers may find distressing.

The family of an Aboriginal man whose face has become a viral trend have spoken out to slam the 'disgusting' TikTok users for using his videos.

The FaceTime 'prank' trend in question, which has been circulating on social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram for a few weeks now, uses an old video from Aurukun man Eric Yunkaporta's TikTok account.

Eric's video, which was taken without his consent, has since amassed millions upon millions of views.

The 'prank' sees creators filming themselves video-calling a friend, partner or family member.

However, instead of showing their face, they use Eric's TikTok to make it look as though he is calling them instead - sparking various reactions from the person on the other end of the phone call.

Eric's cousins Eloise and Leona Yunkaporta, who also live in the north Queensland community of Aurukun, have since come forward to share the shock of their family and the wider community after first seeing the viral 'prank'.

"It's bullying and making a mockery out of First Nations people, and they don't understand how we feel," said Leona Yunkaporta, who is also a town councillor.

"We got a shock when we seen our cousin's videos and his image on social media platforms without his knowledge and consent. It's wrong and it's not funny."

Eloise Yunkaporta added: "It's just very upsetting for us to see people making fun of him and he doesn't have a clue what's going on.

"We've explained most of the parts where this has gotten serious and he said, 'I don't want that [on there]. I want to take it down.'"

Speaking of Eric, who is a respected up-and-coming leader in his community, Leona also outlined: "They don't know what [this] is doing to him and how it's impacting his family and the extended family as well."

Eloise noted: "Eric helps at the school doing spear making, building canoes and he holds cultural programs out on country. He learnt that from his grandad and their grandad.

"He's a humble person, he doesn't look for trouble or resort to violence when something like this happens."

A number of First Nations content creators have spoken out against the trend with Wiradjuri and Mununjali content creator Isaac Compton saying it left a 'bad taste in my mouth' when he first saw it circulating online.

"The butt of the joke is that a Black man has stolen your phone. That in itself should speak volumes. It's a stereotype that Black people, Black men, are thieves," he explained.

"If it was a white person with pearls, it wouldn't work but because it's a Black person and it plays into that stereotype, that's why that trend works. So it's definitely problematic."

Wayne Quilliam, a photographer, has since taken to Instagram to share his National Photographic Portrait Prize-winning photo of Eric 'to combat the extreme racism taking place online'.

"I implore everyone to share this photo of Eric Yunkanpora to combat the extreme racism taking place online. Another unflattering photo of him has gone viral as the 'aboriginal FaceTime/TikTok prank man' and we want to show the world this is inappropriate," urged.

TikTok has since shared a statement following the shocking trend, telling ABC: "While using or sharing someone else's content does not breach our community guidelines, we have taken action on this content, making it harder to find and ineligible for the For You Feed.

"Some search suggestions relating to this topic will also not be visible."

"The videos are distasteful and disrespectful," Meta outlined before adding: "We are reviewing our options."

Tyla has reached out to TikTok and Meta for further comment.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact Stop Hate UK by visiting their website www.stophateuk.org.