The kiddies favourite Australian cartoon show ‘Bluey’ has removed a scene from their ‘Exercise’ episode after it received criticism for promoting a potentially harmful message about body image and weight.
The concerning scene showed Bluey’s parents, Bandit and Chilli, weighing themselves in front of Bluey and Bingo. And let's just say, they were not happy with the numbers they saw on the scale.
Bandit was particularly unhappy and could be seen frowning and grabbing his tummy. Not exactly the best example to be setting for our little ones, right?
Unsurprisingly, many parents were not happy with the message this was sending to their children.
One mum even wrote on a now-removed Facebook post: “I watched my eight-year-old grab her belly like Bandit did. Something a child doesn’t need to think about.”
Thankfully, the creators of Bluey listened to the criticism and decided to remove the scene from the show.
ABC announced that the episode has been reshared “following a decision by the makers of the program.”
They added: “The new version allows families to have important conversations in their own way and hopefully promotes a healthier relationship with body image and exercise.”
Digital creator and Pediatric Dietitian Dr Kyla Ringrose, who spoke out against the original episode, celebrated the change via an IG post and said: “I know that the episode really divided people, but I’m confident the new version is something that makes us all feel comfortable.”
“This is a huge step forward for everyone. Thank you, Bluey.”
So, there you have it. Bluey has made a change for the better, and we can continue to enjoy the show without worrying about the harmful messages it may have been unintentionally promoting.
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