Computer Engineer Barbie; Earring Magic Ken.Photo:Tom Starkweather/Bloomberg via Getty, Yvonne Hemsey/Getty
Tom Starkweather/Bloomberg via Getty, Yvonne Hemsey/Getty
Barbiehas been a cultural phenomenon since the doll launched in 1959, but not every iteration of the Mattel icon and her friends has been a hit.
As Cera, 35, toldThe Guardianof his character, “He’s somewhat of a marginalized figure,” adding, “It turned out people didn’t need to go deeper into Ken’s world.”
With the movie breakingbox-office records, read on for a breakdown of some of the Barbie-line products that many consider to be bombs.
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Barbie and Tanner.MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty
MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty
Barbie and Tanner
Tanner — who is featured briefly in theBarbiefilm, as the pet of Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) — was a controversial figure of his time, as he “ate” his plastic dog food and then pooped it out. Then ate the same material, and so on.
Aside from many parents' head-scratching over the toy’s functionality, Tanner was eventually discontinued. Mattel evenput out a voluntary recallover a magnet within the toy’s blue pooper scooper device.
Happy Family Barbie collection with Midge (R).Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images
Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images
Pregnant Midge
Earring Magic Ken.Yvonne Hemsey/Getty
Yvonne Hemsey/Getty
Earring Magic Ken
Debates about Ken’s sexuality ran rampant from the time of the Earring Magic dolls' release 30 years ago. A former Mattel employee named Carol Spencer said there were even discussions internally about it, according toMELmagazine.
“I do recall the male Mattel designer — who was married with several children and working on the project — saying to me, ‘They will turn Ken gay with this doll!' " said Spencer, per the outlet.
Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken.Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken
Another quick niche Ken appearance is that of Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken (Rob Brydon in the movie), which was launched in 2009.
The doll featured a green printed blazer, white pants and a tiny white dog on a pink leash named Sugar — making Ken “Sugar’s daddy.”
Allan.Mattel
Mattel
Allan
Allan (later re-dubbed Alan) was named after Barbie creatorRuth Handler’s son-in-law, and introduced as a friend of Ken’s in 1964.
He was marketed as Midge’s boyfriend and eventual husband — and, later, the father of her children in the Happy Family line.
The most recent Alan doll was released in 2014, as part of theDouble Date 50th Anniversary Gift Setthat also included a Ken and Barbie doll.
Growing Up Skipper
Hannah Khalique-Brown portrays Growing Up Skipper in theBarbiemovie, giving representation to the doll released in 1975.
Skipper, who is Barbie’s younger sister in Mattel canon, was a teenager in this iteration. Upon a twisting of her arm, she would get taller — and grow breasts.
Computer Engineer Barbie.Tom Starkweather/Bloomberg via Getty
Tom Starkweather/Bloomberg via Getty
Computer Engineer Barbie
This Barbie was introduced in 2010, but received backlash for its accompanying book, in which Barbie enlists the help of two male friends to program a game she’s designing.
" ‘I’m only creating the design ideas,’ Barbie says, laughing. ‘I’ll need Steven’s and Brian’s help to turn it into a real game,’ " the book read in part, according toNPR.
Mattel later issued an apology for the book’s contents in 2014, saying, “The portrayal of Barbie in this specific story doesn’t reflect the Brand’s vision for what Barbie stands for,” per NPR.
Teen Talk Barbie
Marisa Abela gives life to Teen Talk Barbie inBarbie, a doll released in 1992 whose first edition said phrases like, “Let’s plan our dream wedding!” and “Math class is tough!”, according toVanity Fair.
“In hindsight, the phrase ‘math class is tough,’ while correct for many students both male and female, should not have been included,” then-Mattel president Jill Barad wrote in a letter to the American Association of University Women at the time,The New York Timesreports.
Barad added, “We didn’t fully consider the potentially negative implications of this phrase, nor were we aware of the findings of your organization’s report.”
Barbieis now playing in theaters.
source: people.com
