Bluey: Episode of ABC youngsters’s TV present edited over fat-shaming claims

May 05, 2023 at 7:00 PM

Hit Australian youngsters’s TV present Bluey has edited an episode after issues that it was doubtlessly fat-shaming characters.

A co-production between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC Studios, Bluey is about in Australia and is in regards to the lifetime of an eponymous blue heeler pet, her little sister Bingo and her dad and mom Bandit and Chilli.

The episode – known as Exercise – sees Bluey’s mum and pa, Chilli and Bandit, complaining about how they wanted to train to drop extra pounds.

In the present, Bandit is seen weighing himself and saying: “Oh man … I just need to do some exercise”.

Chilli chips in, replying “tell me about it” earlier than Bluey asks “why don’t you just do some exercise?”

After the episode was aired in Australia, dad and mom and well being professionals voiced concern that it was sending doubtlessly dangerous messages to youngsters about their weight.

“With one in five children around the world showing signs of disordered eating, I really expected more…”, one mum or dad wrote on Facebook, whereas others had been “appalled” in regards to the “fatphobic” message.

A spokesman for ABC mentioned: “The recent episode of Bluey, Exercise, has been republished by the ABC following a decision by the makers of the program. The new version provides families with the opportunity to manage important conversations in their own way.

“As the home of Bluey, the ABC supports the decision to re-edit the program and we have updated the episode on our platforms.

“BBC Studios will use this revised model for international distribution and in addition help this choice.”

The decision has met with favour, with one parent posting on Facebook: “Well performed Bluey manufacturing group for listening/recognising the issue and making the change. Looking ahead to watching it this night with my son.”