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MonDec 16

Barbie And Barney Backlash Day – December 16, 2024

Many of us might not have loved certain popular icons in our childhood, so Barbie and Barney Backlash Day was created on December 16 every year to deny their very existence! Perhaps, it’s also a time for parents to take a break from picking up their children’s Barbie dolls or turn off Barney’s famous sing-along songs that have charmed children for many decades. Not only this, Barbies are no longer limited to dolls, there’s a wide array of movies, too. This day, offering us an interesting and somewhat hilarious take on these household names, allows some of us to just forget about Barbie and Barney for a while.

History of Barbie And Barney Backlash Day

While Barbie and Barney are not the only characters to have graced our screens and lives, especially over the holiday season, these two can hit a nerve sometimes. On this day, we can switch off our television screens from their annoying singalongs, and put away the toys scattered around the home. Perhaps it’s time to read a storybook or try a different activity with children that don’t involve Barney or Barbie!

Barney, the famous purple dinosaur, was already in the making in 1987 when Sheryl Leach created “Barney and Friends”. The show first aired in 1992, taking over our screens as well as the hearts of children. The friendly tyrannosaurus rex sang and danced many of his educational messages. Who can possibly forget “I Love You”, the Barney song that made us happy when we were sad?

Parodies of that famous song at the end of “Barney and Friends” became big hits in the ’90s. Some were quite violent and definitely not child-friendly, so we will not repeat all the variations. Many of these songs went from playground to playground, at practically the speed of light, and might just have outlived Barney’s popularity!

Meanwhile, Barbie is the iconic blonde fashion doll that took the world by storm and has somewhat experienced a cultural revolution in recent years. Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot founded the toy company Mattel, Inc in 1945. Fourteen years later, Ruth introduced Barbie Millicent Roberts, better known as ‘Barbie’ to the world. She was the first doll to mimic 1950s celebrity glamor, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.

Over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold around the world, with dozens of Barbie holiday cartoons created for children since “Barbie in the Nutcracker” was released in 2001. Because Barbie has often been criticized for representing an unattainable beauty ideal for girls and women, the doll has evolved both in style and shape over the years. In a historic moment, the Barbie brand began honoring pioneering women across the world, making dolls of athletes, women of color, and plus-sized women.

Barbie And Barney Backlash Day timeline

1992
Anti-Barney Humor Begins

“Barney and Friends” first airs in 1992, gaining popularity among young viewers, but also gathering disapproval by some young adults, who criticize it for being ‘saccharine’, ‘sunshine-and-flowers’, and ‘one-dimensional’.

1998
A Barney Parody Revolution

An online video is created by Ryan Steinhart, combining clips from “Barney and Friends” with the single “Hit 'Em Up”, designed to give the viewer the impression that Barney and the other characters from the show are rapping.

2001
“Barbie in the Nutcracker” is Released

Barbie’s first full-length feature film is released, kicking off a 36-movie streak starring Barbie in the years following.

2009
Barbie’s Fight to Stay Relevant

Mattel begins to see Barbie’s popularity spiraling downwards, with sales dropping 20% by 2014.

Barbie And Barney Backlash Day FAQs

Did Barbie and Ken break up?

After 43 years together, Barbie and Ken decided to call it quits on February 14, 2004. Reportedly, the split was due to Ken’s failure to commit and Barbie’s excitement to commit, often wearing various wedding gowns. It was also the year Barbie ran for president, so she was quite busy!

Why is Barbie bad?

Barbie has been described as being a ‘bad influence’ on young girls. According to social scientists, playing with Barbie dolls negatively affects young girls’ self-esteem, body image, and even career aspirations.

Why did Barney get canceled?

The numerous lawsuits, the rise of public scorn, or the rapidly changing conventions shaping children’s television shows in the post-digital era could explain why Barney was canceled in 2009.

How To Celebrate Barbie and Barney Backlash Day

  1. Read a storybook to kids

    Sick of Barbie movies or listening to a Barney singalong on repeat? Now is the time to put away the Barbie dolls and turn off the television and do something with children that doesn’t involve these two arguably annoying characters. Kids might hate you for it for a while, but it’s always nice to take a break and do something different like reading a book or fairytale to them instead!

  2. Hashtag #BarbieAndBarneyBacklashDay

    Release your feelings of irritation towards the Barbie and Barney children’s shows and toys. After all, things always change from generation to generation. What is the thing that annoys you the most about Barney or Barbie? Write down your thoughts, share on social media for laughs, and hashtag #BarbieAndBarneyBacklashDay.

  3. Make your own Barney parody

    Okay, we know there are literally thousands of Barney parodies on Reddit, but why not make your own? Have a good chuckle and check out what some other people have already made available online. If you’re feeling creative, make your own parody! We only urge that it isn’t violent or rude, but rather kid-friendly.

5 Annoying Facts About Barbie And Barney

  1. Barbie has an annoying song

    Easily one of the most recognizable songs of the late ’90s, the Danish-Norwegian Europop music group Aqua released the mega-hit “Barbie Girl” in 1997.

  2. The biggest Barbie collection, ever

    A German woman, Bettina Dorfman, holds the Guinness World Record for owning the biggest Barbie collection in the world, consisting of 15,000 different kinds.

  3. Beyoncé splurges on Barbie

    Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z splashed out $80,000 on a diamond-encrusted Barbie for their daughter Blue Ivy’s first birthday.

  4. Barney’s delusional messages

    One of the main criticisms of “Barney and Friends” is the unrealistic message Barney portrays — that the world is a place without problems.

  5. Barney can be over-choreographed

    Barney is known for choreographed dance numbers that both dinosaurs and kids take part in, but many criticize the set-up for being too perfect, and thereby a little creepy!

Why We Love Barbie and Barney Backlash Day

  1. We can turn off Barney’s creepy laugh

    Laughter is supposed to be the world’s best medicine that brings about thoughts of happiness and enjoyment. But it doesn't always induce good thoughts — at least not in the case of purple carnivores chuckling madly. We’ve all heard of a witch’s cackle, but what about the dinosaur's unnerving giggle? Some laughs, like Barney’s, simply do not bring about happy thoughts for every person and could make them feel anxiety and discomfort instead. If Barney does that to you, it’s time to turn him off!

  2. Barney’s costume is weird

    Barney’s costume is simply terrifying to some. From his debatably creepy, permanently smiling face, to the huge purple head and tiny hugging arms — Barney’s costume is worse than most. On Barbie and Barney Backlash Day, if you are understandably annoyed by Barney’s costume, you’re not alone!

  3. Barbie is considered too perfect

    Does anything bad actually ever happen to Barbie? Is her motto, ‘Anything is possible’, not a bit of an exaggeration? Of course, the question is up for debate, but many consider Barbie to be the ‘Queen of Mary Sues’ with her typically long blonde hair, blue eyes, impossibly skinny physique, and pink outfits. She also lives in her dream house, dates a hot guy called Ken, and goes shopping all the time. This may rub some people the wrong way, so Barbie and Barney Backlash Day is the perfect excuse to release those inner frustrations if you have any!

Barbie And Barney Backlash Day dates

YearDateDay
2024December 16Monday
2025December 16Tuesday
2026December 16Wednesday
2027December 16Thursday
2028December 16Saturday

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