A SIBLING of a clan dubbed one of America’s most inbred families has been seen dancing for the first time.
Ray Whittaker beamed as he enjoyed listening to music alongside a filmmaker.
The Whittakers, from Odd, West Virginia, have become one of America’s most high-profile families in recent years after being visited by journalists and filmmakers.
YouTuber Lauren is just the latest filmmaker to offer fans a glimpse into their home life after she visited the family.
In a viral video, she shared a heartwarming exchange with Ray, where he was seen picking a song from the influencer’s Spotify playlist.
Lauren told viewers she was curious to find out if Ray liked listening to music.
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Ray initially thought someone was on the other end of her cell phone before Lauren picked The Archies' hit track Sugar Sugar to listen to.
Ray’s face lit up and he beamed as the popular 1960s classic played throughout the home.
He then got up from the sofa and danced with Lauren in the clip.
Lauren clapped along to the beat of the song, while Ray waved his arms before trying to teach him how to do a spin.
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Ray has trouble speaking and uses mostly grunts and gestures to communicate with others.
The Whittaker family first rose to fame when the journalist and filmmaker Mark Laita first made contact with them in 2004.
He spoke with the members of the family – Ray, Lorraine, Betty, and a relative known as Timmy.
During a Koncrete interview, he compared his first visit to their home to the 1972 thriller Deliverance.
He said: “It was out of control - the craziest thing I have ever seen."
Laita said that eyes were darting and people were reportedly barking.
He noted how some of the family members spoke to each other by grunting – a defect that he suspects is a consequence of inbreeding although this has not been confirmed.
Family members have stressed that they do not know what caused the abnormalities.
Inbreeding can cause abnormalities such as “reduced fertility, reduced birth rate, and higher infant and child mortality,” per ThoughtCo.
Laita recalled that during his first visit, the family was “poorer and poorer” but has stayed in touch with them.
The Whittaker family has been able to improve their home thanks to a GoFundMe campaign that was launched.
More than $70,000 have been put toward the campaign and over 2,000 donations have been made.
Laita revealed that 100 percent of the funds raised on GoFundMe will go toward helping the family with living expenses and home improvements.
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Earlier this year, the filmmaker shared the family’s reaction when they got their hair cut.
Ray was thrilled with the result as he couldn’t stop running his fingers through his hair, while Betty said she loved her haircut.
