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applegrove

(119,087 posts)
Tue Aug 8, 2023, 07:24 PM Aug 2023

The right-wing Barbie meltdown shows how reactionary forces are losing the culture wars

The right-wing Barbie meltdown shows how reactionary forces are losing the culture wars

Ben Shapiro: “Get ready, folks. It’s going to be liberated Barbie time."

Special PROGRAMS
LGBTQ

WRITTEN BY MADELINE PELTZ

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM JACINA HOLLINS-BORGES & SOPHIE LAWTON

PUBLISHED 07/18/23 2:04 PM ED
CitationAndrea Austria / Media Matters

https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/right-wing-barbie-meltdown-shows-how-reactionary-forces-are-losing-culture-wars

"SNIP........

The Barbie movie is scheduled to be released on July 21; as it stands, there is no evidence that anti-trans attacks by right-wing influencers have resonated with audiences at all. (Barbie is distributed by Warner Bros. Movies, which is currently being struck by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.)

.............

“People say, ‘Well, what’s the story of Barbie?’” Gerwig recalls. “The story of Barbie is the fight that’s been going on about Barbie.”

In keeping with recent anti-LGBTQ extremist campaigns, right-wing media personalities have now imposed their anti-trans agenda onto that fight. They certainly have the muscle memory for ideologically wrestling with toys: Great battles in the conservative culture war have been waged over Mr. Potato Head, Legos, Xbox, Muppets, and more.

Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, Fox host Rachel Campos-Duffy, and the gambit of right-wing blogs are outraged that Hari Nef, a transgender model and actor, stars in the movie as Doctor Barbie. (There are more than a dozen characters named Barbie in the movie, per IMDb, and an audio clip of each Barbie greeting each other by the same name has gone viral on TikTok.) This is not the first time Mattel has celebrated transgender representation through the Barbie brand: In 2022, the company released a doll version of Emmy-nominated actress Laverne Cox.

........SNIP"

Applegrove:

I think another reason why the GOP is anti Barbie is because (spoiler alert)

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Ken is encouraged to find himself and plans to. Nothing more threatening to a cult than followers who self actualize.





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The right-wing Barbie meltdown shows how reactionary forces are losing the culture wars (Original Post) applegrove Aug 2023 OP
$1 billion box office sales jcgoldie Aug 2023 #1
And took pictures of themselves in the Barbie Box. LakeArenal Aug 2023 #3
The hate for people like me is incredible vercetti2021 Aug 2023 #2
Hrm Sympthsical Aug 2023 #4

jcgoldie

(11,674 posts)
1. $1 billion box office sales
Tue Aug 8, 2023, 07:27 PM
Aug 2023

They don't even believe their own bullshit. How many of those folks who went to the movies and paid to see it were MAGA? Bet its not a small number.

vercetti2021

(10,159 posts)
2. The hate for people like me is incredible
Tue Aug 8, 2023, 07:33 PM
Aug 2023

Literally trying to live my life you fucking losers. Sorry not sorry that trans people are finally getting their fair share in media. Also having a loving spouses, supportive family and friends and jobs like I do. I hope that makes any of you lurkers seeth.

I'm trans and I'm happy. Fuck you. Barbie was fucking awesome, the theater was fun and energetic.

Sympthsical

(9,215 posts)
4. Hrm
Tue Aug 8, 2023, 07:44 PM
Aug 2023

People out there acting like they didn't have a two week long meltdown over another movie.

Maybe - hot take incoming - people shouldn't spend so much time complaining about movies.

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