Blok and Dino: When Comedy Crosses the Line
Asian Mirror, an online newspaper, reported on Sunday, March 29, 2025, that Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, the Chief of the Veddahs—Sri Lanka’s indigenous aboriginal community—is preparing to take legal action against Blok & Dino over their misleading video titled “සුදු වලිගෙ ඇත්තො” (“Sudu Walige Aththo – The One with the White Tail”)—a derogatory term used in the video to mock the Chief himself. Speaking to the media, he stated that the video was created for commercial gain at the expense of the Veddah community’s heritage. He further explained that, despite his attempts to contact the creators to address the issue, they ignored him, worsening the damage to their reputation. Additionally, he criticized the video for distorting the indigenous language and reaffirmed his commitment to legal action to protect their cultural integrity. Instead of showing the courtesy of a formal apology, Block & Dino had the audacity to arrogantly defend their actions in a Facebook press release [full story]. This blog post highlights six key issues in the entertainment industry, as exposed by their response.
A Pattern of Cultural Disrespect in Media
The creators of the recent video mocking Sri Lanka’s Indigenous Veddah community have once again displayed a shocking level of cultural insensitivity—this time by trivializing an entire community for the sake of entertainment. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time they’ve done so. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they took similar liberties with religious figures, mocking individuals like Jerome Fernando in a tasteless display of disregard for sacred beliefs in Weddings: Episode 3 of What if the Lock Down Never Ended. These creators seem to have a habit of pushing boundaries at the expense of marginalized groups, never considering the harm they cause. They turn cultural and religious symbols into jokes, using them for their own amusement without regard for the people who are directly impacted. This pattern of misusing culture for laughs is more than just irresponsible; it is a deliberate choice to perpetuate stereotypes, foster division, and degrade cultures. When will they recognize the damage they cause in the name of “humor” and truly reflect on the consequences?
Exaggeration and the Mockery of Identity
The video in question claims to depict a man who has adopted a “Veddah-inspired” lifestyle, but the portrayal is nothing short of offensive. By exaggerating every aspect of the character’s language, behavior, and tools, the creators have reduced an entire culture to a mere caricature. The use of exaggerated imitations, under the guise of comedy, trivializes the profound significance of Veddah traditions. The video suggests that adopting such a lifestyle is nothing more than an absurdity, perpetuating harmful stereotypes of the Indigenous community as primitive or backward. This form of mockery under the pretense of comedy is not a celebration of culture but a distortion of it. The creators’ failure to approach the culture with respect is evident. Instead of using their platform to educate or enlighten, they chose the easier route—exploiting a community’s identity for laughs. The harm done here goes beyond comedy; it contributes to the erasure and misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and cultures.
The False Representation of Veddah Culture
The creators attempt to justify their actions by claiming that the video was set in Dambulla, a region that is not home to any Veddah settlements. However, this does little to quell the problem, but rather underscores their ignorance and lack of respect for cultural accuracy. Choosing a location far removed from Veddah settlements only amplifies their failure to engage meaningfully with the culture they claim to parody. By disregarding cultural context and choosing an arbitrary location, they reveal their lack of effort and care in understanding the Veddah community. The creators could have taken the time to learn about the Veddah people, their customs, and their way of life, but instead, they opted for convenience. Their laziness in this regard reflects a broader issue in media—cultural appropriation and exploitation for entertainment purposes. Instead of enriching their audience’s knowledge of an Indigenous culture, the creators only succeeded in perpetuating ignorance, harming a community that has been historically marginalized.
A Complete Refusal to Accept Responsibility
Rather than taking responsibility for their actions, the creators have doubled down on their deflection, claiming that their intentions were misunderstood. Their failure to engage in constructive dialogue with the Veddah community is a glaring example of their lack of accountability. A meaningful conversation could have cleared up any misunderstandings, but instead, they chose to ignore the concerns raised by the community, brushing off their criticism as an overreaction. This lack of empathy is disturbing and highlights the creators’ blatant disregard for the impact of their work. Ignoring the genuine concerns of the Veddah people and dismissing their pain as an “overreaction” speaks volumes about the creators’ priorities. It’s not enough to simply say “we didn’t mean it this way.” Their actions have consequences, and they need to take ownership of the harm they’ve caused. Until they acknowledge the harm they’ve inflicted, their defense remains hollow and unconvincing, failing to earn any genuine understanding or trust from those they’ve offended.
The Thin Line Between Humor and Insult
While comedy is indeed subjective, there is a clear difference between humor that critiques and humor that degrades. The creators’ assertion that their exaggerated portrayal was simply a harmless joke falls flat in the face of the profound harm it causes. Comedy should aim to enlighten, challenge, or entertain without demeaning the values, histories, and cultures of others. In this case, the video fails spectacularly, using a marginalized community as the punchline of a poorly executed satire. Rather than uplifting the Veddah culture or shedding light on the complexities of Indigenous identities, it reduces them to a mere spectacle for laughs. The creators are clearly unable to distinguish between humor that elevates and humor that harms. This line of thinking perpetuates the dangerous notion that some cultures are fair game for mockery, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and making it harder for marginalized communities to find respect and dignity in mainstream media. The creators must recognize the difference and strive to create content that contributes positively to society.
The Growing Need for Cultural Awareness
At the heart of this issue is the need for cultural sensitivity. The creators’ actions speak to a wider, more troubling trend of cultural appropriation in modern media. The Veddah community has already faced centuries of exploitation, and reducing their culture to a joke only deepens the harm that has been done. The video serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of uninformed, careless content creation. Cultural symbols and identities should never be used as fodder for cheap entertainment. Creators have a responsibility to approach other cultures with the respect and understanding they deserve. Instead of trivializing the Veddah community, the creators should have taken the opportunity to educate themselves and their audience about the significance of Indigenous cultures. Only then could they have made content that truly engaged with the community in a meaningful, respectful way, rather than further perpetuating harmful stereotypes. True cultural representation is about more than just entertainment—it’s about fostering understanding, respect, and dialogue.
Wrap Up
Block & Dino’s recent video has sparked widespread criticism, highlighting key issues in the entertainment industry, including cultural insensitivity, a refusal to take responsibility, and a blatant disregard for the impact of their content. By mocking the Veddah community and distorting their culture for entertainment, the creators perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misrepresent indigenous traditions. This is not the first time such actions have ignited outrage. In 2023, Natasha Edirisooriya caused a major controversy by mocking religion, showing how entertainment figures continue to trivialize sacred beliefs and identities for commercial gain. Now, in 2025, Block & Dino’s actions bring this issue to the forefront again. Their failure to engage in meaningful dialogue and their defense of their actions demonstrate the ongoing need for cultural awareness in the media. Content creators must recognize the harm their work can cause and approach cultural representation with respect and responsibility.