The Barbie doll debuted on this day in history, March 9, 1959
Mattel founder Ruth Handler (1916-2002) created the iconic doll to inspire girls "to be anything" — the company has sold one billion Barbies since 1959.
Director Greta Gerwig reportedly changed the schedule of the upcoming "Barbie" movie in order to accommodate a trans actor, after the performer sent a passionate letter.
The upcoming movie based on the Barbie franchise of dolls has been making headlines for its quirky style and features a star-studded cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, and Will Ferrell. The film, which some outlets claim will have a PG-13 rating, is being accused of catering to modern identity politics.
After announcing they had been cast in the film as a Barbie, Hari Nef shared a transcription of a letter sent to those in charge of the film.
"[W]hen i heard i was cast as a barbie in the barbie movie, it looked like i was maybe not going to be able to do the film because of a scheduling conflict," Nef wrote. "[S]o i wrote greta and margot a letter essentially begging them to fudge the schedule a little bit."
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling film new scenes for ‘Barbie’ in Venice California. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)
RYAN GOSLING SEEN AS KEN IN FIRST LOOK AT ‘BARBIE’ LIVE-ACTION MOVIE
An image attached to the post showed the letter explaining why the performer explaining "why I want – my heart says ‘need’ to join in the making of this film."
Nef goes on to say, "Identity politics and cinema aren't my favorite combination, but the name BARBIE looms large over every American woman," she wrote. "Barbie's the standard; she's The Girl; she's certainly THE doll."
The performer describes their group of fellow "transgender girlfriends" having dubbed themselves "the Dolls," suggesting the possible symbolic meaning behind it.
A transgender actor shared an excerpt from a letter asking the powers that be behind the new Barbie film to accommodate their schedule, citing their identity. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) (MEGA/GC Images)
"Maybe it's a bid to ratify our femininity, to smile and sneer at the standards we're held to as women," Nef wrote in the letter. The actor said the term is at least partially a joke, while noting that "underneath" the term "doll" is "the shape of a woman who is not quite a woman — recognizable as such, but still a fake."
Nef reiterates the point by saying, "‘Doll’ is fraught, glamorous; she is, and she isn't," adding, "We call ourselves ‘the dolls’ in the face of everything we know we are, never will be, hope to be. We yell the word because the word matters. And no doll matters more than Barbie."
Another newly released trailer has also met with controversy for its association with modern identity politics.
Screencap from "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Trailer #2," posted on the "Entertainment Tonight" YouTube channel. A poster or flag saying "PROTECT TRANS KIDS" can be seen above the doorway, (Sony/Marvel)
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The latest Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer, released the same day as the latest Barbie trailer, featured a poster in a character’s room saying "Protect Trans Kids" and a pin can be seen on the protagonist’s bag declaring "#BLM."