Filmmaker Mark Laita, known for his documentary work and exploration of marginalized communities, has publicly announced that he is severing ties with the Whittaker family, who have been widely regarded as America’s most inbred family. Laita first introduced the Whittakers to a broader audience through his popular YouTube channel, Soft White Underbelly, providing a rare and controversial glimpse into their lives in Odd, West Virginia.
The family has gained attention for their distinctive behaviors, such as communicating through grunts, barking at people, and running away when approached. The Whittakers’ lives have sparked both intrigue and concern, but after years of interaction, Laita has expressed frustration, claiming the family has been dishonest with him throughout their relationship.
Initial Encounter With the Whittakers
Laita’s first encounter with the Whittakers dates back to 2004 when he met family members Ray, Betty, Kenneth, Timmy, and Lorene. During this initial visit, he was met with caution from the family’s neighbors, who were protective of the Whittakers, fearing ridicule from outsiders. Laita described the experience as intimidating, with armed neighbors on the lookout for anyone looking to mock the family.
His goal was to photograph the Whittakers for his book Created Equal, which explores diverse and often marginalized cultures in the U.S. Over time, Laita gained the family’s trust and revisited them in 2020 to deepen his understanding of their lives. These visits culminated in a documentary on Soft White Underbelly, where viewers were introduced to the family’s way of life and their struggles.
Laita’s Shocking Experience
Laita’s experiences with the Whittakers were far from ordinary. In an interview on the Koncrete KLIPS Podcast, Laita recounted a particularly unsettling encounter with the family. “There’s these people walking around and their eyes are going in different directions, and they are barking at us,” he said. Laita described one family member who would run away and kick garbage cans, creating a chaotic and surreal atmosphere.
The filmmaker’s documentary, Inbred Family – The Whittakers, featured interviews with family members, including Ray, who communicated through grunts and gestures, and Betty, who was unsure of the causes behind the family’s abnormalities. Another family member, Kenneth, attributed their unusual eye alignment to coal mining, though the true cause remains undetermined.
Fundraising Controversy
Following the release of the documentary, the Whittakers became the beneficiaries of a crowdfunding campaign organized through Laita’s Soft White Underbelly platform. However, years later, unsettling developments regarding the family and the funds raised for them began to emerge. YouTuber Tyler Oliveira, in a video investigating America’s poorest regions, interviewed the Whittakers and asked about the money that had been raised for them. Betty Whittaker responded, “I don’t know,” when asked about the funds, raising suspicions.
Laita, who had worked closely with the family, was left furious by the insinuation that they had not seen any of the money. He insisted that the family had benefited greatly from the donations, noting, “Look at the Whittakers; their lives have improved greatly since I came into it.” He explained that the family regularly asked for funds, often a few thousand dollars at a time, but it remained unclear how the money was being used.
Laita’s Frustration and Decision to Walk Away
The fallout from Oliveira’s video left Laita feeling betrayed, both by the Whittakers and the portrayal of his role in the fundraiser. He emphasized that he had always provided the family with what they needed, yet felt unappreciated and accused of being a scammer. “When he asked Betty ‘What happened to the money?’ and she replied ‘I don’t know,’ come on, Betty knows exactly where the money went,” Laita said, frustrated by the lack of acknowledgment.
Laita decided to release a video addressing the situation, sharing screenshots of the money transfers to prove he had been transparent. “I’m going to discontinue my GoFundMe for the Whittakers. I probably won’t even do videos with them anymore,” he said, adding that the entire fundraising process had been “nothing but a headache.”
The Final Straw: Lies and Betrayal
What made the situation even more troubling for Laita was an incident involving Larry Whittaker, who was falsely reported dead earlier in 2024. The Whittaker family had relayed this misinformation to Laita, who then announced Larry’s death on his YouTube channel, only to find out later that Larry was alive. It was revealed that Larry’s daughter BJ had lied about her father’s death to receive $1,000 for a funeral that never happened. In a subsequent video, BJ admitted to the lie, explaining that she had been struggling with drug addiction.
Laita attempted to continue helping the family, even giving Larry $700 to move BJ to North Carolina to start a new life. However, Larry never followed through with the plan, and Laita felt further deceived. In a final conversation with Larry’s cousin, Jason Whittaker, Laita vented his frustrations, saying, “They are all lying to me, so I’m done with them.”
The End of a Tumultuous Journey
After years of working with the Whittakers, Laita’s decision to cut ties marks the end of a tumultuous relationship that began with curiosity and concern. While his initial intentions were to shed light on the family’s unique circumstances, the challenges of managing their welfare and the complications surrounding the fundraising efforts have left him with a bitter taste.
Laita’s story raises important questions about the ethics of documenting marginalized communities and the complexities of managing public donations. As he moves on from the Whittakers, the filmmaker remains committed to his broader work but acknowledges that this chapter has left him wary of continuing similar efforts in the future.