Why Is the Barbie Movie Smallpox Joke Controversial?

A joke in the latest Barbie movie is causing controversy. The joke, which compares the changes to Barbieland to the impact smallpox had on Indigenous people, has been met with a lot of criticism. While Barbie turned out to be a great cinematic event that delivered strong messaging and punchlines, one of its attempts at “witty humor” has drawn a bit of controversy. Here’s all you need to know about the smallpox gag in Barbie and the debate that surrounds it.

Why the Barbie movie’s smallpox joke is distasteful to many

In the film’s third act, we see Ken (Ryan Gosling) take over Barbieland using the concept of patriarchy, which he picked from the real world. But looking at the change in dynamics at Barbieland, America Ferrera’s Gloria turns to Barbie and says,

“Oh my god! This is like in the 1500s with the Indigenous people and smallpox. They had no defenses against it!”

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She compares the whole situation at Barbieland to how the Native people living in North America died because they weren’t immune to infectious diseases that the colonists brought with them. This supposed quip has proven to be unpleasant for many because it compares the structural oppression of Kens to the genocide of indigenous people.

The reaction to the Barbie Movie Smallpox Joke

In an article on Native Viewpoint, the author Vincent Schilling (an indigenous writer himself) states that the reference was completely unwanted and it “ripped [him] out of the moment” as he was watching the film. He further explained exactly what was wrong with the quip:

“As an Indigenous man, I found the comment to be out of place,” Schilling writes. “It’s inappropriate to compare the deaths of Indigenous people who contracted smallpox, to Barbies under the influence of Kens.”

Additionally, a Twitter thread by Yuè Begay on the same matter also went viral. The Indigenous and trans scholar tweeted:

Begay further said that anti-Native jokes and other jokes about smallpox “are never funny and never will be.” Clearly, the one-liner has proven to be a bad reference for many native viewers. Another Indigenous writer Frances Danger tweeted:

Danger further added:

“I was excited to see the movie to find out I was walking into an Anti-Native space with almost no warning was horrible.”  

In entertainment elsewhere, find out when The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 could arrive. Also, check out when The Gray Man 2 will release on Netflix.

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