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I completely agree with your critique of the superficiality of cultural "appreciation" in this context. I find that this point connects to Mannur's discussion of the "stench of otherness" in her chapter 4, "Intimate Eating" (Mannur, 104). She explains how the white upper-middle class is inclined to be repulsed by the mexican-korean fusion food truck, citing their sanitary concerns as the reason while, in reality, their repulsion is rooted in an aversion and stigma surrounding working class people of colour. Owners of restaurants and food trucks serving "ethnic" foods have to take extra precaution to accommodate white fear and stigma, perhaps compromising the way they would have liked to serve their food. Food is such an intimate vehicle through which to share and connect with one's culture, and so many immigrant people of colour experience a feeling of shame and othering when it comes to sharing their food in a Western context, tainting their relationship to their culture on some level.

I think you're right about the Swet Shop Boys critiquing Western exoticism, but I’d argue the video does more than just highlight the clichés. It feels like they’re reclaiming these images too, turning the exaggerated stereotypes on their head as a way of mocking them. By doing this, they’re not only exposing how the West consumes Eastern culture, but also using humor to take ownership of how their identity is portrayed. The use of meaningless "Arabic" subtitles, for example, isn’t just a critique of Western indifference, but also a playful way to show how ridiculous the simplification of cultures can be. It’s as if they’re saying, “If you’re going to reduce us to a stereotype, we’ll make it as absurd as possible.”