Warner Bros. addresses ‘Barbie’ South China Sea map controversy
July 7, 2023
Warner Bros. have spoken up about the controversial South China Sea map in “Barbie” that prompted Vietnam to ban the film from playing in cinemas.
Background information: State media reported on Monday that “Barbie” will not be premiering in Vietnam due to a scene with a map that includes China’s “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea.
The nine-dash line is included in Chinese maps to show the parts of the South China Sea that China has claimed ownership of. Vietnam considers some of these areas as being part of its own continental shelf.
Warner Bros. speaks up: On Thursday, the studio commented on the map, calling it a “child-like drawing” with no meaning behind it.
“The map in Barbie Land is a whimsical, child-like crayon drawing,” Warner Bros. said in a statement to Variety. “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.”
Additional information: “Barbie” was previously scheduled to premiere in Vietnam on July 21.
The film follows a doll named Barbie who leaves Barbie Land for the human world in search of true happiness.
“Barbie’s” star-studded cast includes Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emma Mackey, Ritu Arya, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Will Ferrell and Michael Cera, among many others.
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