shot-button
Maharashtra Elections 2024 Maharashtra Elections 2024
Home > Entertainment News > Hollywood News > Article > Barbie wont be banned in Philippines but controversial map scene will be blurred

'Barbie' won't be banned in Philippines, but controversial map scene will be blurred

Updated on: 13 July,2023 02:23 PM IST  |  Los Angeles
IANS |

In a separate letter to a local Senator, the MTPCB has requested the studio executives to blur out part of the map scene to ensure that viewers in the country don't "misinterpret" the sequence

'Barbie' won't be banned in Philippines, but controversial map scene will be blurred

Margot Robbie's Barbie looks

After a long standing controversy, 'Barbie' due to its controversial map scene got banned in Vietnam but will be getting released in the Philippines. However, the scene is likely to get blurred.


According to The Hollywood Reporter, Philippines' Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTPCB) said in a letter made public Wednesday that they had "exhausted all possible resources to arrive at this decision," having consulted foreign affairs officials and legal experts. But after "meticulous" scrutiny of the film, the censors decided there was "no basis to ban the film." In a separate letter to a local Senator, the MTPCB has requested the studio executives to blur out part of the map scene to ensure that viewers in the country don't "misinterpret" the sequence.


The movie's entire controversy got erupted due to Barbie drawing the picture of a world map which depicts the 'nine-dash line', a U-shaped marking which is seen as strengthening China's controversial territorial claims deep into the South China Sea, which countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei among others have opposed, arguing that it violates their sovereignty and territorial integrity.


As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Philippine censors said they were convinced the 'cartoonish map' shown in the film was not intended to depict the nine-dash line. Instead, the map portrayed the route of the make-believe journey of Barbie from Barbie Land to the 'real world', as an integral part of the story, the board said in a statement.

Dashed lines drawn in a 'child-like manner' appeared in several locations on the Barbie map around land masses crudely identified as Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia, the censors said. But they noted that only eight dashes were around the landmass labeled 'Asia'. 'Barbie' will hit theatres on July 21, 2023.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Register for FREE
to continue reading !

This is not a paywall.
However, your registration helps us understand your preferences better and enables us to provide insightful and credible journalism for all our readers.

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK