The Block Has Been Accused Of ‘Casual Racism’, After Contestant Kim Wears Aboriginal War Paint

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Are we really here again? Another day, another example of an Aussie overstepping the mark in terms of cultural sensitivity. Last night on The Block a scene was aired which showed competition contestant Kim wearing face paint and making lols about “tribes”.

Since the episode, several people – including many Indigenous Australians – have taken to Twitter to express their outrage over broadcasting such a scene in 2016. This follows several other examples of blackface and other culturally offensive behavior this year from clueless Aussies.

One of the loudest voices to have issue with the depiction was Indigenous campaigner Nayuka Gorrie. She posted to her Facebook page, saying she was “appalled but not surprised” by The Block’s airing Kim’s war-painted face.

“Kim is a deputy principal and at one point paints her face up and says ‘I’m from the tired tribe of apartment five.’ Kim works with young people,” she said.

While the incident itself may be culturally insensitive, what’s worse is that such a joke with the potential to cause offense was aired at all. The Block is an edited program and it’s a bit odd that a joke of that nature would have been included in the final cut.

It was the conscious decision to air it by Channel Nine, which had some viewers scratching their heads.