Banning ‘Barbie’ in Vietnam: Warner Bros. justify the ‘unrealistic’ world map

Banning “Barbie” in Vietnam
Warner Bros. justifies Unreal world map

7/7/2023 6:46 AM

Due to an inaccurate depiction of disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea, the world map from the new “Barbie” hit a sore spot in several countries. Vietnam bans the new movie immediately. Warner Bros. now confirms that the card is a “childish crayon drawing.”

After the long-awaited Barbie movie was banned in Vietnam due to a controversial world map, American film studio Warner Bros. has spoken out. According to authorities in Hanoi, the new film from director Greta Gerwig shows the so-called Nine-Way Line, which China has been using on maps for decades to claim large parts of the South China Sea. However, other countries also claim territories there – such as Vietnam, the Philippines or Malaysia.

So the National Board of Film Classification decided a few days ago that “Barbie” will not be shown in cinemas in the Southeast Asian country. In the Philippines, authorities are also considering a possible ban for the same reason. “The Barbieland map is a children’s crayon drawing,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson told Variety. “The doodle represents Barbie’s imaginary journey from Barbieland to the ‘real world’. It was not intended to make any statement.” Canada’s Toronto Star wrote in commentary that the world map is “cartoonish” and “unrealistic”. “Where is continental Europe? New Zealand? What do sailboats represent? Is that a fool’s crown in Iceland?” the newspaper asked sarcastically.

The new movie “Barbie”, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, tells the story of Barbie dolls and Ken, who live happily ever after in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. But then the plastic blonde is brought into the real world because she’s not perfect enough. Along with Kane, she ends up in reality – which has many turbulent consequences. It is the first movie adapted with real actors. Barbie can be seen in German cinemas from July 20.