Barbenheimer feud was heated online. Image: Twitter via @Seihy
Barbenheimer feud: Japanese users fire back with 9/11 Memes
The feud began because of the perceived insensitivity of the ‘Barbenheimer’ trend, with Barbie and imagery of a devastating historical event.
Barbenheimer feud was heated online. Image: Twitter via @Seihy
Japanese social media users lashed out at the Barbenheimer phenomenon, they created memes mocking the 9/11 terrorist attacks in response to the juxtaposition of Barbie with images of the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the movie poster mashup.
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THE BACKLASH
It all started when the official X account for the upcoming ‘Barbie‘ film made a seemingly harmless comment according to The Hollywood Reporter. The comment stated ‘It’s going to be a summer to remember’ beneath a movie poster collage that combined the toy-inspired flick with ‘Oppenheimer.’ ‘Oppenheimer‘ is a film portraying the making of the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, resulting in the loss of nearly 200,000 Japanese lives.
The poster features Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer holding Margot Robbie’s Barbie in front of a fiery mushroom cloud. It quickly garnered attention, but not the kind the creators expected. Japanese X users were deeply offended by the juxtaposition of such a sensitive historical event with a beloved toy character. They did not like Barbenheimer.
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In response to the Barbenheimer trend, they started creating memes that mock the 11 September 2001, terrorist attacks. The attack resulted in 3,000 innocent lives lost on that tragic day.
BARBENHEIMER FALLS IN JAPAN
The hashtag ‘NoBarbenheimer’ started trending on social media. Japanese users expressed their outrage at the lack of sensitivity. Especially from some of the American social media users. The memes featured images of the Twin Towers emitting pink smoke, along with captions expressing their disdain for the tasteless ‘Barbenheimer’ trend.
As expected, this global Barbenheimer feud did not escape cynics and controversy enthusiasts. Some defended the American side, arguing that jokes about sensitive topics like 9/11 are not uncommon on US social media. This only fueled the fire further, with some saying that it was disheartening to witness such a callous attitude towards tragedies that had affected so many people.
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CULTURAL INSENSITIVITY
The Barbenheimer clash sadly coincides with the upcoming anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August, respectively. The timing added an extra layer of emotional sensitivity to the already heated situation. It created even more anger among Japanese users.
We don’t know how this online feud will impact the performance of both films in Japan. It is clear that the issue extends far beyond the realm of entertainment. It raises important questions about cultural sensitivity, humour about historical events, and the responsibilities of companies and social media accounts in their engagements.
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PATH TO HEALING
As the global feud continues, it serves as a stark reminder that jokes about sensitive topics can have dire consequences, often leading to intense emotions and leaving lasting scars. Perhaps this serves as an opportunity for both sides to engage in meaningful dialogue and learn from each other’s perspectives, promoting empathy and understanding across cultural boundaries.
