Australian public broadcaster edits out references to weight in Bluey episode

The makers behind the hit ABC Australian children’s series Bluey have succumbed to pressure and heavily edited an episode that ­focused on weight after it was criticised for sending damaging messages to children about their bodies.

Nearly three weeks after the episode first aired, the public broadcaster issued a statement on Friday, saying the content had been “been republished by the ABC following a decision by the makers of the program”.

Online outrage erupted after the episode, titled Exercise, showed husband and wife Bandit and Chilli using bathroom scales to weigh themselves and being disappointed when their weight was revealed.

After seeing the number pop up on the scales, Bandit groaned: “Aw man.” Bandit then goes on to grab fat around his stomach and Bluey asks: “Why don’t you just do some exercise?”

Bandit replies, “Same old reason Bluey, you kids and work.”

He says he can’t do it because he would be late for work and his boss wouldn’t be happy. Chilli then jumps on the scales, a number pops up and she sighs: “Ah man.”

Among those to call out the outrage over the episode included Nine Network’s Today Show co-host Karl Stefanovic who said at the time: “I think this is fantastic, it’s a bit of Australiana and it plays out in households across Australia.

All these influencers are coming out going, ‘Bluey’s fat-shaming and it’s disgusting’. Give it a rest. It’s actually a really good message.”

However after widespread criticism about the episode, the ABC said the newly edited version would now allow families to hold discussions about issues including weight in an appropriate way.

The new six-minute version of the Exercise episode has removed the scales references altogether and focuses on ways to stay fit, including rolling out a fitness mat and doing push-ups and star jumps.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/abc-edits-out-references-to-weight-in-bluey-episode/news-story/bb438023f435ec4688808612676cb248

***********************************

My other blogs. Main ones below:

http://edwatch.blogspot.com (EDUCATION WATCH)

http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)

http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)

http://australian-politics.blogspot.com/ (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)

http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM)

https://immigwatch.blogspot.com/ (IMMIGRATION WATCH)

https://awesternheart.blogspot.com/ (THE PSYCHOLOGIST)

http://jonjayray.com/blogall.html More blogs

*******************************