WTF or something else?
As one who has not played with Barbies in any serious kind of way for at least 20 years, I’m sure there are plenty of modern dolls doing all kinds of things I never dreamed of as a kid. And while yes, I would’ve liked a doll that trills out “what the f**k?!?” when my brothers would try to pull her head off, one mom of a young girl says she’s not too pleased that her daughter’s talking Barbie appears to have a potty mouth on her.
The doll is part of a Barbie web reality series Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse, reports the Daily Mirror. Apparently living in the dreamhouse involves saying things like “Amaze,” “I love a makeover,” “there is no substitute for glitter,” and “time is a flat circle” (just kidding).
But the “WTF?!?” was something a mom in the United Kingdom wasn’t prepared to hear, and is certainly not on the list of accepted phrases for seven-year-olds, and thus, the doll was taken away from the daughter to go wherever swearing Barbies go.
“She was disappointed, of course, but she understood that it is wrong to swear and so the doll had to go,” the mom explained to the Daily Mirror.
Because she didn’t have a receipt when she brought it back to where the doll came from, she says she was told there was nothing that could be done for her as a result.
“I think it’s very irresponsible of the toy company — they know that children are going to be playing with these toys,” the mom says. “I’m not the only one who has heard it. You can hear it loud and clear, it definitely says ‘what the f***’.”
A Mattel spokeserson confirmed there was an investigation into the matter but had no further comment for the Daily Mirror.
Talking toys are often incomprehensible, unschooled in the subtleties of human intonation and conversational skills. So it’s kind of tough to say whether or not the Talkin’ Barbie is actually yelling “What the f**k?!?” in a shrill, high voice, or is just chortling some other high-pitched exultation.
Listen to the video and see what you think — and again, this Barbie may or may not be yelling “What the f**k,” so use headphones, and then vote below:
“Swearing” Barbie doll shocks mum as it blurts out “What the f***?” [The Daily Mirror]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
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