“It’s A Child-Like Crayon Drawing”
Warner Bros. defends the Barbie moment that caused the movie to be banned in Vietnam. Starring Margot Robbie as the main character, and Ryan Gosling as Ken, Barbie follows their journey from Barbieland to the real world. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie is one of the most highly-anticipated films of the year. However, the comedy has already been banned overseas in Vietnam ahead of its release due to a scene featuring the “nine-dash line.”
In an interview with Variety, Warner Bros. explains the controversial map that led to the ban of Barbie in Vietnam, defending it in the context of the scene. According to the studio, the map is a child’s drawing and should not be taken seriously. Here’s what a spokesperson for Warner Bros. had to say:
“The map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing. The doodles depict Barbie’s make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the ‘real world.’ It was not intended to make any type of statement.”
Why Barbie Is Banned In Vietnam, Explained
The scene in question shows Barbie in front of a “real world map” that includes the nine-dash line. This line represents China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, which Vietnam also claims as their own. A 2016 international ruling recognized Vietnam’s ownership of the land, but China does not acknowledge this, resulting in a ongoing dispute.
Vietnam’s ban on Barbie is not the first time this has happened, as Tom Holland’s Uncharted also faced a ban in the country for featuring the nine-dash line. The Philippines have also threatened to ban Barbie due to concerns about their sovereignty. Warner Bros.’ response makes it clear that the scene is not intended to be part of the political debate, as it is a child’s drawing in crayon and not an accurate map of the world.
It remains to be seen if the ban on Barbie will significantly impact the movie’s success, as losing out on certain international markets could affect its global box office performance. However, domestically,
Warner Bros. defends the Barbie moment that got the movie banned in Vietnam. Starring Margot Robbie as the titular doll, and Ryan Gosling as Ken, Barbie follows the pair as they depart Barbieland for the first time ever and enter the real world. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie is one of the most highly-anticipated films of the year. However, the comedy has already been banned overseas in Vietnam ahead of its release, due to a scene that features what is known as the “nine-dash line.”
Speaking to VarietyWarner Bros. explains the controversial map that got Barbie banned in Vietnam, defending it in the context of the scene. According to the studio, the map is drawn from the perspective of a child, and is not meant to be taken seriously. Check out what a spokesperson for Warner Bros. had to say below:
“The map in Barbie Land is a child-like crayon drawing. The doodles depict Barbie’s make-believe journey from Barbie Land to the ‘real world.’ It was not intended to make any type of statement.”
Why Barbie Is Banned In Vietnam, Explained
The scene in question sees Barbie standing in front of a “real world map” that depicts the nine-dash-line. The controversial line represents China’s territorial claims along the South China Sea, sectioning off about 90 percent of it as their own. However, this is land that Vietnam also claims to be theirs, as it was recognized in an international ruling in 2016 that China had no legitimate legal ownership of the land. However, China does not acknowledge this, leaving it a hotly disputed topic to this day.
Vietnam’s ban on Barbie isn’t the first of its kind, as Tom Holland’s Uncharted received the same treatment from the country for depicting the nine-dash-line. The Philippines have also threatened to ban Barbie, as both countries claim this depiction threatens their sovereignty. Based on Warner Bros. response, it’s clear the scene is in no way intended to enter the political debate, as it’s a children’s drawing in crayon, not an actual map of the world.
It remains to be seen if Barbie‘s ban will greatly impact the movie’s success upon release, as losing out on certain international markets could result in a lower global box office gross. Domestically, Barbie is on track for an excellent run, so perhaps the bans won’t be too concerning. It seems Warner Bros. intends on keeping the scene in the film, given its innocent and cartoonish nature. Unless Vietnam takes into consideration its context, this could mean the Barbie ban will ensue upon its debut later this month.
Source: Variety
