Barbie is
breaking down gender barriers in a new ad campaign.
Mattel’s iconic doll has been in
production since 1959 – but the ad for the latest iteration of the doll this
week contained something brand new.
The 30-second
ad for ‘Moschino Barbie’ – a partnership with the Italian luxury
fashion house – hit screens this month.
Rather than
just featuring girls playing with the newly-styled dolls, the ad makes a small
gesture of acceptance by also showing a little boy.
The kid
declares his Barbie doll to be “so fierce!”, before helping Barbie to answer
her own miniature mobile phone.
It’s of course
not the first time boys have played with Barbie dolls – or Earring Magic Ken,
for that matter – but it’s thought to be the first time a boy has been seen in
Mattel’s official ads.
The clip has
had a warm reception online, with one commenter writing: “This almost made me
cry! I used to play with my sister’s Barbies and felt such shame afterward. I’m
so glad we can just let kids be kids. Thank you for this! Boys like dolls too!”
Another guy
added: “As a Barbie collector, I just wanna THANK YOU SO MUCH for putting a boy
in you commercial. This is seriously amazing. THANK YOU”.
However, some
people weren’t happy.
One YouTube
commenter wrote: “I’d kick my son’s ass. Gay is okay. Flaming is NOT.”
Barbie recently
tried out a new androgynous punk look, when Mattel teamed up with a famed
make-up artist for Paris Fashion Week
In one look,
Barbie rocks a buzz cut, and in another her face is emblazoned with Swarovski
crystals.
Okay - another barrier removed. Good for Mattel!
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