An Australian content creator was slammed on social media after he documented his 3-day stay in Mumbai’s Dharavi and called it “India’s deadliest slum” in an Instagram video.

The vlogger, Pete Z, uploaded the clip with the caption, “I tried surviving India’s deadliest slum,” which opened with visuals of narrow, congested lanes in Dharavi.

In the video, he was accompanied by an Indian woman named Ayushi, who introduced the idea to him. While she admitted she was “actually afraid” to go through with it, Pete said, “I paid her to do this.”

Pete was seen walking into the crowded settlement and announcing, “We’re staying here for three days.” The footage then follows him as he explores the cramped surroundings, describing the halls as “thin, with minimal space to walk around.”

He later approached a local resident, asking if she lived there. The woman invited him inside, offering a brief house tour that showed a small kitchen and compact living arrangements. Pete then climbed up to a bunk bed, appearing baffled by the lack of space available for families.

The video has received attention online, with some users calling it an eye-opening look at urban poverty, while others criticised it for sensationalising the struggles of people living in such conditions.

Watch the video here:

People on social media had a lot to say about Pete’s video. Several users took offence, calling him out for focusing only on poverty and presenting a one-dimensional view of India.

One user commented, “I’d suggest you explore the other sides of India too, as there is some part of your audience who would judge the entire country based on that particular area you’ve covered.”

Another simply asked, “Just one question, why was this needed?”

Some users argued the video also shed light on the harsh realities of living in such areas.

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