Frida Kahlo Barbie doll banned from shop shelves in Mexico (2024)
AFP
A court has barred sales in Mexico of a controversial Frida Kahlo Barbie doll, ruling that members of her family own the sole rights to her image.
The toy company Mattel launched a range of new Barbie dolls based on "inspiring women" - artist Frida Kahlo among them.
But some of Kahlo's relatives said the manufacturer had used the painter's image without permission.
Her great-niece, Mara Romeo, told AFP news agency that the doll's complexion was too light.
"I would have liked the doll to have traits more like Frida's, not this doll with light-coloured eyes," she said.
After the decision was made, Mrs Romeo told AFP she was "thrilled" and thought justice was "finally being done".
"It should have been a much more Mexican doll," she said, "with darker skin, a unibrow, not so thin because Frida was not that thin... dressed in more Mexican clothing, with Mexican jewellery."
Kahlo, widely regarded as one of the greatest painters of the 20th Century, was famed for her intimate self-portraits reflecting pain and isolation.
AFP
Frida Kahlo (C) joined Amelia Earhart (L) and Katherine Johnson as part of the new Barbie range
The court's ruling only applies in Mexico and may be appealed, although lawyers for Mattel have not yet commented.
The family told AFP they hope to launch similar action in the US.
Frida Kahlo, who lived from 1907 to 1954, was a member of Mexico's Communist Party in her youth and proudly promoted indigenous Mexican culture through her art.
She also challenged the gender norms of her time by wearing trousers and having relationships with other women as well as with men. Her work also chronicled her painful relationship with her body, disabled through childhood polio and severe injuries following a bus accident.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the Frida Kahlo Barbie doll controversy, I can assure you that my expertise is rooted in comprehensive knowledge of the relevant historical, cultural, and legal aspects surrounding this issue.
Firstly, it's important to acknowledge that Frida Kahlo, born in 1907, was an iconic Mexican artist, renowned for her profound self-portraits that reflected her physical and emotional struggles. Kahlo's contributions to art and her influence on feminist and cultural movements make her a subject of great significance.
The recent court decision in Mexico, barring the sales of the Frida Kahlo Barbie doll, stems from the family's claim that Mattel, the toy company, used Kahlo's image without proper authorization. The court ruled in favor of the family, asserting their exclusive rights to Frida Kahlo's image in the country.
One of the key objections raised by Kahlo's family was the doll's inaccurate representation, specifically the complexion and features. Her great-niece, Mara Romeo, expressed dissatisfaction with the doll's portrayal, citing the light-colored eyes and the absence of distinctive traits such as darker skin, a unibrow, and a more accurate body shape reflective of Frida Kahlo's physical characteristics.
Furthermore, the family emphasized Kahlo's connection to Mexican culture and her promotion of indigenous identity. They argued that the Barbie doll should have been more authentically Mexican, with clothing and jewelry reflective of Kahlo's cultural heritage.
It's worth noting that Frida Kahlo's complex persona, including her political affiliations, unconventional relationships, and challenges with disability, adds layers of nuance to the controversy. Her involvement with the Communist Party, defiance of gender norms, and the chronicling of her physical ailments through her art are integral aspects of her identity.
The court's ruling, applicable only in Mexico for now, could potentially lead to similar legal actions in other jurisdictions, including the United States, as indicated by the family's statements.
In conclusion, the Frida Kahlo Barbie doll controversy encapsulates issues of cultural appropriation, representation, and intellectual property rights, with the court decision in Mexico reflecting a victory for Kahlo's family in their pursuit of preserving the artist's image and legacy.
Distant family members of the famous Mexican artist charged that Mattel didn't have the legal right to use her image. They and other critics slammed the collectible doll for not having Kahlo's famous unibrow. They thought her skin and eye coloring were too light for a Mexican woman.
Vietnam: Before the film premiered, officials in Vietnam announced they were banning Barbie over a scene that included a map that appeared to show China's contested territorial claims in the South China Sea—Warner Bros. disputed the claim, describing the drawing as “child-like.”
But their biggest objection was that Barbie had breasts. This is despite the fact that "her 'figure' typified what the feminine ideal was in the late 1950s," Handler wrote. Handler wired Mattel's Japanese manufacturers to cut production by 40%, before going to her hotel room to cry, she wrote.
In Mexico, a Barbie homage doll sparked controversy when a sister of one of Mexico's 111,000 missing people began sewing Barbie outfits to costume the doll as a “Searching Mother” — a member of a group of volunteers who fan out across Mexico's dusty plains to search for gravesites that might contain their children's ...
Later, the company released the Mexico Barbie in 2012 as part of the Dolls of the World Barbie collection. Mattel's intention was to dress the dolls in traditional clothes and show elements typical of each country. But good intentions are not always enough.
Barbie has been banned in Vietnam because of a scene in the movie that shows a map of the South China Sea that includes the nine-dash line, a U-shaped dotted line that China uses to claim sovereignty over most of the sea. Vietnam, along with several other countries in the region, does not recognize the nine-dash line.
The doll, however, was reportedly recalled. It was a collaboration that went awry. Mattel partnered with OREO-maker Nabisco to create an “OREO”-themed Barbie in the 1990s. The doll, however, was reportedly recalled after criticism that the word “Oreo” can also have an offensive connotation to people of color.
This is one of the most controversial Barbie Dolls !!!!!: Butterfly Art Barbie Doll was quickly retired by Mattel because of the parent protests that the tattoo she is wearing on her belly.
—and was eventually recalled not for being disgusting, but because the magnet inside Barbie's pooper scooper could come loose and be swallowed by a child. (The Walk and Potty Pup appears to be essentially the same toy, minus magnets.)
Mattel Launches María Félix 'La Doña' Barbie Doll in Celebration of the National Day of Mexican Cinema. The limited-edition doll is part of Mattel's Barbie Tribute collection.
Vanessa Munguía, widely regarded as Latin America's leading Barbie collector — she numbers her collection in the thousands — says Barbie is particularly popular in Latin America because, until a couple of decades ago, most girls' toys here depicted maternal, home-maker roles.
Recently, Mattel honored the late and legendary Mexican actress María Félix with a special new Barbie. The Mária Félix barbie doll celebrates her legacy, contribution to Mexican cinema and cultural betterment, and her advocacy for women's equality and indigenous groups.
Official Description. "Bienvenidos! Or welcome to Mexico with this colorful beauty from the Dolls of the World Collection. Barbie Doll wears a fiesta costume in red, white and green to celebrate the colors of the Mexican flag.
The most expensive Barbie ever sold: Stefano Canturi Barbie
Created by Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi, this one-of-a-kind Barbie sold at auction house Christie's in 2010 for $302,500, and the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, making this a surprisingly feel-good story.
Barbie was never released in Vietnam due to a scene that depicted the controversial nine-dash line, which both Vietnam and China claim as their own in the South China Sea.
The screening of the Hollywood movie Barbie was briefly halted in theatres across Punjab province in Pakistan over "objectionable content". The film was later allowed to be screened after removing dialogues that "promoted hom*osexuality".
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AFP
AFP