Famous Bluey Cartoon Deletes Scene After Pressure Over Alleged ‘Fat-Shaming’

Producers of the popular Australian cartoon Bluey have removed a scene from a recent episode amid pressure over alleged “fat-shaming.”
The show depicts the life of Bluey, an anthropomorphic six-year-old Blue Heeler puppy who lives with her father, Bandit, mother, Chilli, and younger sister, Bingo. Each character represents a dog breed. The show, which aims at nursery-age children, focuses on family life and Bluey’s growing up in the Australian culture.
The episode, titled Exercise, aired on April 16, showed Bluey’s father weighing himself in the bathroom and complaining about his weight.
“Oh man … I just need to do some exercises,” Bandit said, holding his sides while looking at the mirror.
“Tell me about it,” Bluey’s mother, Chilli said.
“Why don’t you just do some exercises,” asked Bluey.
Bandit answered, “Same old reason Bluey, you kids and work.”
Chilli also jumped on the scale and went, “Oh man.”
The next scene showed Bandit starting an exercise regimen to work off his extra weight. He then visited a GP who told him he was in “great shape” and asked if he had been going to a gym.
Paediatric dietitian Kyla Ringrose commended the show for being relatable for parents, but she said it is “equally progressive and aware of current social issues and this episode is really out of step.”
“Kids do not need to be watching parents hate on their bodies or exercise to get thinner.”
Another audience said, “I felt really uncomfortable having my young daughter watch it. We are already soaking in diet culture and weight stigma as it is, we don’t need Bluey to emulate these negative messages about body shape and weight.”
“I love Bluey so much, but this episode had such a disappointing beginning. We have worked so hard to undo all the self hate of our bodies that we learned from our parents’ generation, let’s not pass it on to the next one. We all deserve so much better,” one person said.
Nine Network’s Today Show co-host Karl Stefanovic said the scene was “fantastic.”