Chris Hemsworth criticized for the new Limitless TV show
The dispute erupts after Chris Hemsworth films in a sacred site for the aborigines: “It was very disrespectful”
- Chris Hemsworth’s Limitless series has sparked controversy
- The crew filmed a cultural ceremony at Wrights Lookout in NSW
- Thunggutti elders say they were not consulted about the filming
A documentary series starring Chris Hemsworth has sparked controversy after the actor and production crew filmed at a sacred site for Aboriginal people.
The team for the National Geographic series Limitless filmed a cultural ceremony at Wrights Lookout, located in the New England National Park in northern New South Wales.
Hemsworth is seen shirtless, painted ocher white and dressed in a red lap as he takes part in the ceremony with dancers on the show.
Wrights Lookout is located in an area of great cultural and spiritual importance to the local Aboriginal people and is shared territory between the Thunggutti or Djangadi, Anaiwan and Gumbaynggirr peoples.
Chris Hemsworth painted white ocher and dressed in a red lap is seen taking part in a cultural ceremony with Aboriginal dancers at Wright’s Lookout in northern New South Wales.
Many indigenous groups warmly welcomed the ceremony and commented on how it brought together traditional owners from the three nations.
But Thunggutti mob elders in Bellbrook have criticized the shoot as disrespectful, claiming the production team failed to advise them.
“It was disrespectful to the culture … to the indigenous people of this country,” Thunggutti’s older aunt Ruth Dunn told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Thunggutti’s older uncle, David Toby, said: ‘This is a community. When a person says ‘yes’, that’s not right.’
The production company behind the series, Nutopia, said there was extensive consultation with members from all three nations before filming began.
An indigenous cultural consultant was hired on set to interact with the different mobs.
The Thunggutti Aboriginal Land Council, the Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation in Coffs Harbor and the Coffs Harbor Aboriginal Land Council also gave written approval to the filming.
Daily Mail Australia is not alleging any wrongdoing on the part of Hemsworth or any person or organization involved or associated with Limitless.
The ceremony, featured in an episode of the National Georgraphic series Limitless, has drawn criticism from certain Thunggutti elders.
The ceremony is featured in episode five of the National Geographic series titled ‘Memory’.
See Hemsworth taking part in a Welcome to the Country reconnaissance before taking a walk through the area with Gumbaynggirr-Bundjalung man Otis Hope Carey.
The Hollywood actor then takes part in the cultural ceremony at Wright’s Lookout.
Limitless, which is streaming on Disney+, has Hemsworth exploring life and longevity through different challenges.