The Barbenheimer social media phenomenon in Japan has drawn criticism for trivializing the 1945 atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. Film maker Warner Bros, known for creating the Barbie film, issued an apology for their “insensitive” use of Twitter (now known as X) in promoting the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer. Both films were released on July 21, leading to a cinema craze called ‘Barbenheimer,’ where moviegoers vowed to watch both films in one day. People shared their opinions on social media, often using memes that combined elements from Barbie and Oppenheimer, including edited images of Barbie stars driving a pink convertible away from a nuclear explosion.
The Barbie US Twitter account responded positively to these posts with humorous messages about the film. However, many social media users found the imagery to be insensitive and felt that it trivialized nuclear weapons and the devastating impact of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The hashtag #NoBarbenheimer trended on X (Twitter) in Japan as a response.
Warner Bros. Japan criticized its US counterparts with a social media statement, expressing regret for the reaction to the “Barbenheimer” fans’ posts. The statement garnered significant attention and likes. Warner Bros. Japan urged the US headquarters to take appropriate action and apologized to those offended by the series of inconsiderate reactions.
In response, Warner Bros. Film Group issued an apology on Tuesday morning, expressing regret for their insensitive social media engagement. The studio offered a sincere apology for any offense caused.
