❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Scottish bagpiper has faced backlash and social media bans on platforms like TikTok after sharing videos promoting Scottish culture abroad.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Robin Alderslowe, a 20-year-old Scottish bagpiper; and critics, including fellow Scots and social media platforms like TikTok.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Alderslowe has traveled to countries like India, South Korea, and Australia, with his videos recently going viral.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The most core thing about fixing immigration is fixing our own attitudes toward our own self.” — Robin Alderslowe
🎯IMPACT: Alderslowe has been ostracized by some Scots, banned from social media platforms like TikTok, and faced criticism for being vocal about Scottish culture.
Robin Alderslowe, a 20-year-old bagpiper from Scotland, has stirred debate after posting videos of himself showcasing Scottish culture in various countries. He says his mission is to celebrate and preserve his heritage in a world where Western traditions often face criticism or are becoming diluted.
Traveling to countries such as South Korea, Australia, and India, Alderslowe has gained attention online, some of it supportive, and some not. While audiences abroad have generally responded with curiosity and appreciation, the strongest pushback, he says, has come from his fellow Scots.
“Normally, people think the confused faces of Indian people means they’re angry, but they’re quite pleased to have me there,” Alderslowe explained in a recent media interview. He noted that although his performances are well-received in places like India, he’s faced accusations of racism back home in Scotland. According to Alderslowe, some have even gone so far as to call him a “Nazi” simply for expressing pride in his culture.
This backlash has had real-world consequences. Alderslowe shared that he’s been effectively pushed out of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, a famous destination for street performers. “I can’t play there anymore,” he said, noting that the local busking community has distanced itself from him. Tourists often ask about him using the label “racist bagpiper,” further contributing to his exclusion.
His presence on social media has also been impacted. TikTok has permanently banned his account, while Instagram has restricted some of his functions, including posting and private messaging. Despite these obstacles, Alderslowe remains determined. He insists that cultural pride is not only important but necessary. “If we want to keep our culture the way that it is … then we have to be proud of [that] culture and say it in a loud way,” he said.
He also voiced concern over the growing trend of discouraging Westerners from valuing their heritage. “We’re saying things like, ‘White people don’t have any culture,'” Alderslowe noted. “And to me, the most core thing about fixing immigration is fixing our own attitudes toward our own self, our heritage, our history, and our culture.” He believes being unapologetic and outspoken is key to preserving cultural identity, even if it means facing criticism.
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