Eko Sulistyo
The digital landscape in Indonesia has once again been ignited by a heated controversy involving Marcel Radhival, popularly known as Pesulap Merah (The Red Magician), following the release of his latest investigative content filmed at the historic and spiritually significant site of Gunung Kawi in East Java. The fallout from the video has reached a boiling point, drawing a sharp and public rebuke from the local traditional authorities. Specifically, a prominent "kuncen" or traditional caretaker of the area, identified as Agus, has voiced profound disappointment and anger, labeling the influencer’s actions as disrespectful and an affront to the sanctity of a location that serves as a multi-religious place of worship.
The controversy centers on Marcel Radhival’s approach to documenting the practices associated with Gunung Kawi, a site long shrouded in myths of "pesugihan" or rituals for attaining instantaneous wealth. While Marcel has built a massive following by debunking what he characterizes as fraudulent spiritual practices and shamanistic trickery, his recent foray into Gunung Kawi is being viewed by locals not as an act of public education, but as an intrusion into a sacred space. Speaking during a recent appearance on the "Jejak Backpacker" YouTube podcast on Saturday, July 11, 2026, Agus clarified that the primary grievance was not necessarily the critique of superstition itself, but the perceived lack of ethics and basic etiquette displayed by the content creator during his visit.
The Allegations of Disrespect and Unauthorized Entry
According to the statements provided by Agus, the core of the issue lies in the methodology Marcel used to produce his content. The caretaker described Marcel’s behavior as "kurang ajar," a strong Indonesian term signifying a profound lack of manners or education. The grievance stems from the allegation that Marcel entered restricted or specialized areas within the Gunung Kawi complex without obtaining the necessary permits or seeking the blessing of the traditional authorities who have managed the site for generations.
Agus emphasized that Gunung Kawi is not a public park or a lawless zone where influencers can film at will. Instead, it is a complex social and religious ecosystem governed by long-standing traditions. "I saw that it is not allowed to enter our special places without permission," Agus stated during the podcast. He further elaborated that any visitor wishing to access specific zones, particularly those reserved for meditation or prayer, is expected to follow a protocol of respect. This involves introducing oneself to the caretakers and explaining the purpose of the visit, a step that Agus claims Marcel bypassed in favor of a more confrontational or clandestine filming style.
When questioned by the podcast host about whether permission is a mandatory requirement for all visitors, Agus affirmed that it is an essential gesture of respect. In the context of Indonesian "Adat" or customary law, the role of the kuncen is to guard both the physical and spiritual integrity of a site. By ignoring this hierarchy, Marcel is perceived to have violated the social contract that allows for the peaceful coexistence of tourism and tradition in the region.
Beyond the Myth of Pesugihan: The Multi-Religious Reality of Gunung Kawi
A significant portion of the tension arises from how Gunung Kawi is portrayed to the wider public. For decades, the mountain has been sensationalized in tabloid media and horror films as a hub for dark rituals and "pesugihan." However, Agus and other local leaders argue that this narrative is a reductionist and harmful stereotype that ignores the site’s true function as a center for interfaith harmony.
During the discussion, Agus highlighted that Gunung Kawi is home to official places of worship for five recognized religions in Indonesia. The complex includes a mosque (musala), a Christian prayer house, a Buddhist vihara, a Taoist or Confucian temple (klenteng), and a Hindu pura. These facilities are used daily by pilgrims and locals for legitimate religious activities that have nothing to do with the pursuit of occult wealth. "In the vihara, the temple, the church, the mosque—those are places for prayers, places of worship with good intentions. There is no concept of pesugihan there," Agus explained.
The caretaker expressed concern that Marcel’s content reinforces the negative "pesugihan" stigma, which in turn devalues the spiritual experiences of the thousands of people who visit the site for genuine religious reasons. By focusing solely on the "debunking" of myths, the kuncen argues that influencers often trample over the cultural heritage and the lived reality of the community that maintains the site’s multi-religious identity.
Chronology of the Controversy
The friction between Marcel Radhival and the Gunung Kawi community did not emerge in a vacuum. It follows a timeline of escalating tensions between modern rationalist influencers and traditional practitioners in Indonesia.
- Initial Visit (Late June 2026): Marcel Radhival and his production team traveled to Malang, East Java, to film a series of videos focused on the "mysteries" of Gunung Kawi. Reports suggest the team focused on areas traditionally associated with the "Dewaruci" and the graves of Eyang Jugo and Eyang Raden Mas Iman Soedjono.
- Viral Content Release (Early July 2026): The video was uploaded to Marcel’s social media platforms, quickly garnering millions of views. The content featured Marcel’s trademark skepticism, questioning the validity of rituals performed at the site and challenging the "supernatural" claims often sold to tourists.
- Local Backlash: Within days of the upload, residents and caretakers of Gunung Kawi began expressing their grievances on social media, claiming that the video was edited to make the location look sinister or fraudulent, and that the filming was done provocatively.
- The Podcast Statement (July 11, 2026): Agus, representing the traditional leadership, appeared on "Jejak Backpacker" to officially address the situation, leading to the current wave of national media coverage.
Profiling the Protagonists: Marcel Radhival vs. Traditional Guardians
Marcel Radhival, known as Pesulap Merah, rose to national fame for his "war" against Gus Samsudin, a self-proclaimed spiritual healer. Marcel’s brand is built on "education through exposure," where he uses his knowledge of stage magic and sleight of hand to demonstrate how many "miracles" are actually performed using physics or hidden tools. While he is hailed by many young, urban Indonesians as a champion of logic and rationality, he is frequently criticized by traditionalists for being "arrogant" and "insensitive" to local customs.
On the other side of the conflict is the institution of the "Kuncen." In Javanese culture, the kuncen is more than just a janitor or a guide; they are the spiritual "key-holders" of a site. Their authority is derived from lineage or community appointment, and they are responsible for maintaining the harmony between the human and spiritual worlds. To a kuncen like Agus, Marcel’s "rationalist" intrusion is seen as a form of cultural neo-colonialism—where modern values are used to mock and invalidate ancient traditions without attempting to understand their sociological or communal depth.
Supporting Data and Social Implications
The clash at Gunung Kawi reflects a broader societal shift in Indonesia. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, spiritual and cultural tourism remains a significant contributor to the regional economy of East Java, with Gunung Kawi attracting over 100,000 visitors annually during peak seasons such as the "Satu Suro" (Javanese New Year) celebrations.
Furthermore, a 2025 study on digital trends in Indonesia noted that "supernatural debunking" content has become one of the fastest-growing genres on YouTube and TikTok. While this content promotes critical thinking, it often skirts the edges of the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE) and the Indonesian Criminal Code’s articles on blasphemy or religious defamation. If a content creator is deemed to have insulted a religion or a sacred site, they could face legal repercussions, as seen in several high-profile cases involving influencers in recent years.
The economic impact on Gunung Kawi is also a concern for the locals. If the site becomes synonymous with "fraud" due to viral content, the local economy—which relies on hospitality, ritual offerings (flowers, incense), and guided tours—could suffer. Conversely, Marcel’s supporters argue that exposing "pesugihan" scams protects vulnerable people from being extorted by fake shamans who frequent such areas.
Analysis of the Broader Impact
This incident serves as a critical case study on the ethics of content creation in the digital age. As influencers seek increasingly "edgy" content to maintain engagement, the boundaries between public interest and private sanctity become blurred. The Gunung Kawi controversy highlights three major points of friction:
- The Ethics of Consent: Does a public or semi-public religious site have the right to demand "filming permits" based on traditional values rather than just state law? In Indonesia, the answer is often "yes," as customary law (Adat) holds significant social weight.
- The Definition of "Sacred": For Marcel, a grave or a tree is a physical object that cannot grant wealth. For the local community, these are symbols of ancestral heritage and focal points for prayer. The conflict arises when one party insists on judging the other’s symbols through a strictly materialist lens.
- The Responsibility of Influencers: With millions of followers, Marcel Radhival has the power to shift public perception. The kuncen’s anger suggests that this power was used without the requisite responsibility to provide a balanced view of Gunung Kawi’s multi-faith reality.
As of now, Marcel Radhival has not issued a formal apology, though he has historically defended his actions as necessary for "cleaning up" Indonesian spirituality from deceit. However, the strong stance taken by Agus and the Gunung Kawi community suggests that this particular dispute may not be easily resolved without a formal mediation or a gesture of reconciliation that acknowledges the site’s cultural and religious complexity.
The situation remains fluid, with local authorities in Malang reportedly monitoring the social media reaction to ensure that the tension does not escalate into physical protests or legal complaints. For now, the "Red Magician" finds himself in a different kind of spotlight—one where logic and magic tricks may not be enough to appease the guardians of ancient Javanese tradition.
