The filmmaker who gained attention for spotlighting what has been referred to as “America’s most inbred family” recently shared insights on his initial encounter with them.
Mark Laita, who first documented the Whittakers from Odd, West Virginia in a video five years ago, has continued to update the public about the family on YouTube.
The history of the Whittaker family’s inbreeding traces back to the marriage of children from identical twin brothers Henry and John, leading to subsequent generations with severe disabilities.
Laita revealed the challenges he faced in approaching the family due to the protective nature of their neighbors. However, with the help of a police officer, he managed to reach their residence.
During an appearance on the Koncrete Klips podcast, Laita described his journey to the family’s home as a progression from a road to a country road and then a dirt road, eventually arriving at a trailer and a shack where he encountered individuals with unusual behavior.
Drawing parallels to a scene from the movie Deliverance, Laita recounted the eccentricities he witnessed during his initial interactions with the family, describing it as a surreal experience.
Despite initial reluctance from the family, Laita gradually built a rapport with them by offering to take photographs for a deceased relative’s coffin, leading to his return in 2020 to film “Inbred Family – The Whittakers.”
Acknowledging the challenges of communication, Laita has produced a series of videos on his YouTube channel, Soft White Underbelly, documenting the Whittakers’ daily lives with titles like “Christmas season with the Whittakers” and “The Whittaker family cemetery.”
Receiving mixed reactions from viewers, some label Laita as exploitative while others find the content intriguing. Laita himself admits to the exploitative nature of his work but argues that shedding light on such realities is essential for awareness.
In conclusion, Laita emphasized that while his work may be deemed exploitative, it serves a purpose in raising awareness about societal issues, much like any other service that fulfills human needs.