Actress reveals she walked out of Barbie movie with her daughter, 10, because of ‘inappropriate sexual connotations’ – but faces a furious backlash
- Famous Indian actress Juhi Parmar has been trolled on Instagram by her fans
- READ MORE: Barbie fan issues ‘warning’ about a major moment in the movie
An Indian actress who said the ‘Barbie’ movie was ‘inappropriate’ for children has been trolled by Barbie fans, with one of them even labelling her a ‘bad parent’.
Juhi Parmar, 42, from Ujjain took to Instagram to say she was ‘heartbroken’ after discovering that the critically acclaimed film had ‘inappropriate language’ and ‘sexual connotations’.
The single mother admitted to taking her daughter Samairra, 10, to see the movie without checking its PG-13 rating and advised other parents ‘not to make the same mistake’.
So outraged with the movie was Juhi, that she ‘chose to walk out’ of the cinema just 15 minutes into the movie, but complained that her daughter would still hear about the content of the movie from other children with less ‘responsible’ parents.
She questioned why director Greta Gerwig had to ‘break the perfect illusion of Barbie’ instead of making a child-friendly movie, but was met with a furious backlash from fans, who branded her review ‘the saddest post ever’.
Actress Juhi Parmar (pictured), 42, from India, has taken to Instagram to say the ‘ Barbie’ movie is ‘inappropriate’ for children
The single mother has been trolled by her followers for criticising the critically acclaimed movie, with one of them even labelling her a ‘bad parent’ (Actress Margot Robbie pictured)
‘Some of you may send me a lot of angst but I share this note as a concerned parent to Barbie,’ she wrote in ther post.
‘And for the other parents out there, don’t make the mistake I did and please do check before you take your child for the film. That choice is yours!’
The controversial message was followed by a detailed letter calling out the ‘Barbie’ brand.
Juhi began by conceding that perhaps she could have conducted a little more research into the nature of the Barbie movie.
She wrote: ‘I start with owning up to my mistake. I took my 10-year-old daughter Samairra to watch your film without researching the fact that it was a “PG-13” movie.
’10 minutes into the movie, there was inappropriate language and sexual connotations, and I was anxiously running out of the theatre wondering what I had just exposed my child to’.
The mother, who divorced fellow Indian actor Sachin Shroff in 2018, placed some blame on herself, as she was eager to treat her daughter to the movie.
Although her criticism of the movie would draw ‘angst’ from fellow viewers, she said she was compelled to speak out as a ‘concerned parent’
Juhi also said she was ‘heartbroken’ after discovering that the critically acclaimed film had ‘inappropriate language’ and ‘sexual connotations’
She added that Barbie dolls were once a childhood favourite of hers, but its ‘marketing’ has since changed over the years
She said the Barbie movie should share blame with other films as ‘half of Hindi movies’ had similar content – yet contain no age warnings
She ended the message by asking the film creators why they broke the ‘perfect illusion of Barbie’ and questioned why it couldn’t simply be enjoyed by the whole family
‘She had been waiting to watch your film’ said Juhi.
‘I was just shocked, disappointed and heartbroken with what I had just exposed her to’.
Apparently so appalled by what she had seen, she said she was the first person to walk out of the moviehouse after just ’10/15 minutes’, but others followed in her footsteps.
She continued: ‘I saw other parents following with their little ones crying, while some parents chose to stay back to watch the entire movie’.
‘In fact I would say leave PG-13, the language and content in your film Barbie is inappropriate even for children 13 and above’.
She went on to say that the film should have been more inclusive for a younger audience, because Barbie is such a ‘part of our childhood’
‘I want to ask, why make a movie that is such an essen tial part of a child’s life and then have content in it which is so inappropriate for them,’ she said.
‘And then I ask what about the cross checks? I made a mistake by not doing my research but why are there no reminders and checks? Why are theaters not reminding parents that: we hope you are aware that this is a PG-13 movie?’
She went on to claim that it’s a deliberate ploy to boost ticket sales, saying: ‘The theaters would be half empty if it wasn’t for the young girls who are pushing their parents to take them for the film.
‘I went back and checked the promos and realized that none of them even gave a glimpse of the inappropriate language that was coming up in the movie. So then then why mislead?’
She concluded by saying that while she walked out as a ‘responsible parent’, others would stay behind with their children to see the movie.
‘And those kids will have conversations with other children, so it becomes impossible to avoid. The language and information comes back to my child even if I try to keep her away from it,’ she said.
She signed off by questioning why director Greta Gerwig had to ‘break the perfect illusion of Barbie’ instead of making a film for the whol family to enjoy.
Juhi’s words sparked fierce criticism from more than 1,000 people, as many couldn’t hold back their views.
‘You’re just a bad parent’ said one person.
One parent thought the movie was ‘beautiful’ and couldn’t see the ‘problem’: ‘I went with my eight-year old-daughter and we both loved it they said.
‘I don’t see any problem with the movie. It’s a beautifully written movie tackling several societal issues that kids should know about’.
Another person said: ‘It’s not the film’s job to parent your child. Read the ratings and take a call.
‘Sensitive much? Barbie has always been sexualised, where have you been?
Another person agreed, saying: ‘This is like the saddest post ever. It is not a Disney movie. I have been the biggest Barbie fan and I have a 12-year -old.
Juhi’s words have sparked fierce criticism from over 1000 people, as many couldn’t hold back their views
‘But not in my wildest dreams had I thought of taking her to watch the movie especially after I saw the promo. Why didn’t you research better?’
And in a lengthy comment, one person said Juhi was ‘what’s wrong with parenting’.
They said: ‘You are exactly what’s wrong with Indian parenting, taking the child to watch the movie and suddenly running out of the theatre to save your kid?
‘It’s funny that you think that your child growing up won’t be exposed to anything inappropriate that you ‘THOUGHT’ was the problem in the film.
‘If you had the courage to sit through the films without being overly sensitive about it your kid might have learned a thing or two.
‘Rather than learning to run away in life if things don’t work out in their favour’.
Meanwhile someone else said the movie was trying to ‘redeem’ itself, and even quoted lyrics from the famous 1997 smash hit song ‘Barbie Girl’ by Aqua: ‘“You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere.
‘”Imagination, life is your creation. I’m a blonde bimbo girl in a fantasy world.
‘”Dress me up, make it tight, I’m your dolly, You’re my doll, rock’n’roll, feel the glamour in pink.
‘”Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky”. I wonder if this is appropriate for a young girl? The movie is at least trying to redeem this.’
‘What in the Karen is this? ‘another added.
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