Uluru photos slammed by Indigenous star

First Nations actress Miranda Tapsell has hit out at a number of ‘influencers’ who have used Uluru as a backdrop to promote their social media platforms.

Bella Messina, Alyssa Jane, Jessica Thoday, Tyra Brooke, Ella Victoria, and Lily April Rose were recently invited by Explore Uluru to visit the sacred site.

But Tapsell said on the Something to Talk About podcast the visit was disrespectful.

“Even if you don’t believe in the spirituality that surrounds the place, you are going to someone’s house,” the 37-year-old said.

“So you do have to have a certain respect about what you can photograph, especially if it’s a particular place where thousands of women have had babies, or where hundreds of men throughout the generations have danced.”

Social media backlash

The criticism has sparked backlash on social media sites with one response saying the influencers did nit pay respects to “Elders, land, lore or culture… Uluru is not your content farm. Respect the mob, respect the land”.

Another wrote: “Uluru isn’t a prop for white girls – it’s sacred land. This campaign is actually disrespectful and ignorant.”

Media guidelines apply at Uluru and Kata Tjuta, even for tourists sharing photos on personal accounts.

Large parts of the area have been declared off-limits to photography, while other areas require a permit. Fines of more than $5,000 apply.