Scarlett Moffatt’s new show The
British Tribe Next Door has divided viewers upon its first episode aired on Tuesday night, with some labelling it “poverty porn”.
The Channel 4 series sees the former Gogglebox star and her family living alongside the Himba tribe in Namibia for four weeks, in an attempt to learn about each other’s cultures.
In a bizarre twist, a replica of the Moffatts’ family home was built for them to live in, so the tribe could judge first-hand the consumerist western lifestyle they had heard about but not seen in the real world. During the opening episode, viewers saw the Moffatt family learn that their physical possessions did not necessarily make them happy, while Scarlett also had some realisations about body confidence after spending time with the people of the Himba.
Many praised the show for educating about the excess of western lifestyle, calling for critics to look beyond their snap judgements about the show’s premise. Was genuinely ready to hate #thebritishtribenextdoor but actually enjoying it. If nothing else it’s a lesson in unnecessary excess...— Chi Chi Izundu (@blondeafro) October 22, 2019People are watching this and saying that it's poverty porn. I'd urge you to look a little deeper and you'll realise that this tribe are some of the richest and most liberated people you've probably ever come across. #thebritishtribenextdoor— Your Favourite Auntie 😘 (@O_lalaa82) October 22, 2019I think The British Tribe Next Door is going to turn out as one of the most fascinating programmes I have ever seen. It's not insulting to the Namibians, but a total wake up call for us. By the end of it, I bet we'll all look differently at our lives.#TheBritishtribenextdoor— Emma Twamley (@EmTwamley) October 22, 2019I haven't enjoyed telly like that in years. Such a graceful and much needed education. #thebritishtribenextdoor— ᑭᕼᗩYᒪEᑎ (@phaylen) October 22, 2019For all the people complaining- The tribe agreed and wanted to do this show, at the end of the show they said didn’t want any of the Moffatt’s things, as they liked their life as it is. After filming they left a bore hole for them. #TheBritishTribeNextDoor@ScarlettMoffatt— Owen (@OwenCChild) October 22, 2019I think The British Tribe Next Door is going to turn out as one of the most fascinating programmes I have ever seen. It's not insulting to the Namibians, but a total wake up call for us. By the end of it, I bet we'll all look differently at our lives.#TheBritishtribenextdoor— Emma Twamley (@EmTwamley) October 22, 2019Well! Only 10 mins into #TheBritishTribeNextdoor and already I am engrossed! What a quirky but great idea - and unexpectedly touching too. Genius telly! Ideal family to do it with as well, @ScarlettMoffatt— Vicki Louise (@Vixstero) October 22, 2019@ScarlettMoffatt what a wonderful wonderful programme! Ignore the idiots, the tribespeople came across as so wonderful! Your family did too! It’s made me reevaluate what’s really important, thank you #thebritishtribenextdoor— Steve Elliott (@togosaurusrex) October 22, 2019#thebritishtribenextdoor the people calling this show arrogant are actually the arrogant ones. Because they are clearly thinking its about showing how privileged we are to the primitive people. Actually it's about realising how ridiculous are lives are in many ways!— Andrew Brady (@andybrady1) October 22, 2019People are watching this and saying that it's poverty porn. I'd urge you to look a little deeper and you'll realise that this tribe are some of the richest and most liberated people you've probably ever come across. #thebritishtribenextdoor— Your Favourite Auntie 😘 (@O_lalaa82) October 22, 2019Why are ppl so offended over #thebritishtribenextdoor ? It’s a social experiment in which ppl from both sides of different culture learn more about each other and promotes integrating with other cultures on some level. Swear these days ppl just offended over everything 🙄— Triixcayy_x 🌺✨ (@Triixcayy) October 22, 2019Thought #thebritishtribenextdoor was going to be dreadful but I absolutely love it. The villagers are so warm and friendly. The Moffats are exactly the right family for them to meet, love them 😆😍 @ScarlettMoffatt— Jules (@JulesItsjules) October 22, 2019However, for others, The British Tribe Next Door played into stereotypes the western world holds about Africa, with some accusing programme-makers of producing “poverty porn”.Like....... Who the fuck decided that this "show" would be a good idea??? Building a British terraced house in the middle of an African village to prove what exactly? #TheBritishTribeNextDoor— Ozuna Stan 🧸 (@ashindestad) October 22, 2019This #TheBritishTribeNextDoor progUproot yo privileged life, put it in the middle of a poor village in Namibia..WHY?!Namibia has amazing modern cities & architecture too, but I guess that goes against “The west is modern & Africa is backward” rhetoric.🙄https://t.co/P2o5oLl0xa— Prossy (@Pkakooza) October 22, 2019Nah this is peak poverty porn. A very uncomfortable “we’re the civilised ones” vibe. Who the hell commissioned this programme, even more so during #BlackHistoryMonth ffs #TheBritishTribeNextDoor— Rohan (@Chops8592) October 22, 2019This programme is making me fucking fume. This is the most embarrassing, ridiculous, painful car crash TV ever. You should be fucking ashamed of yourselves @Channel4 because this is disgusting. #thebritishtribenextdoor— Cara Van Parc (@CaraMac0902) October 22, 2019The name says it all. Invoking the British colonial continuous past, rather than viewing Black Africans as human beings, the lens is one of surveillance and the colonial zoo."Quality" 🙃 content from Britannia, indeed.#thebritishtribenextdoor— Bòsko | #767 🇩🇲 (@aChildOf2Worlds) October 22, 2019@Channel4@ScarlettMoffatt#thebritishtribenextdoor poverty porn ....how very English. pic.twitter.com/qJL8PDEwkS— Just trying to make it through another damn day.. (@nxumalo_themby) October 22, 2019Wtf even is this?!? Hope channel 4 payed those Namibian builders the same amount they’d pay a British construction worker... although somehow I doubt it. Not one for being easily offended, but this is just bloody awful! 😱 #thebritishtribenextdoor— Dani 🌺 (@Daniell94584161) October 22, 2019There is something about #thebritishtribenextdoor that makes me feel really uncomfortable. It appears reality TV shows need to be more & more eccentric to attract attention - however this feels exploitative - there is something about it that just seems strange & inappropriate.— chris amdorble (@chrisamdorble) October 22, 2019ummm who thought #thebritishtribenextdoor was a) a good idea and b) in any way appropriate to air in BLACK HISTORY MONTH ??!!! Nobody considered the coloniser/colonised issues clearly represented here at all did they?— Katie Burdon (@katieb_221) October 22, 2019#TheBritishTribeNextDoor What an absolute disgrace. Who is responsible for this self indulgent shit. #C4 should hold their head in shame.— jack scht (@jackscht) October 22, 2019There’s something about putting a semi-detached house with electricity and luxuries next to an African tribe that just SCREAMS privilege and really doesn’t sit right with me... wtf is this #TheBritishTribeNextDoor— Hal(Lou)ween 🎃 (@LouieNorton) October 22, 2019@Channel4 okay I enjoyed #GBBO as always but you’ve totally ruined my evening by placing @ScarlettMoffatt in Namibia. You cannot make enetertaining TV out of poverty and tribes.. this is actually beyond ridiculous #theBritishtribenextdoor— basak dee (@BasakDee) October 22, 2019Scarlett tweeted after the show: “Thank you so so so much for your positive comments for my family and for my himba friends.”
Responding to some of the concerns about it, she added: “Just to clarify we left a water borehole for our friends when we left Namibia which someone maintains.”Thank you so so so much for your positive comments for my family and for my himba friends #thebritishtribenextdoor— Scarlett Moffatt (@ScarlettMoffatt) October 22, 2019Just to clarify we left a water borehole for our friends when we left Namibia which someone maintains #britishtribenextdoor ❤️— Scarlett Moffatt (@ScarlettMoffatt) October 23, 2019Channel 4 previously stressed that the Himba tribe had agreed to host the Moffatts so they could learn about their way of living.
The average Himba family has about a dozen possessions, compared to the nearly 22,000 items in the Moffatts’ home.
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