Barbie Movie Banned In Vietnam Because Of Pro-China Map, Inspiring Memes

Barbie, widely expected to be one of the hottest and most memed films of the summer, has been banned in the nation of Vietnam because of a territorial dispute with China.

The exact reason for Barbie getting the banhammer is attributed to a map in the film that apparently contains a dotted line over the South China Sea, which indicates that the body of water belongs to China. Vietnam, however, claims the South China Sea and the oil resources underneath the waves for itself.

After coming out with the decision, just weeks before the movie's release, the Vietnamese government moved quickly and hid references to Barbie on social media platforms, according to local press.

On social platforms, many expressed disbelief and fascination at the ban as the news spread — largely due to the fact that few other films have been as hotly anticipated by the avidly online this summer aside from the upcoming Oppenheimer.

The issue of film studios and other corporations catering to the Chinese government's preferences has disturbed many commentators in the past (such as the infamous 2019 Blizzard boycott or John Cena's contentious apology fiasco in 2021).

In order to do business in many authoritarian countries, companies commonly have to validate and appease governments, often helping them push narratives that serve their interests. China has conducted many military drills and constructed artificial islands in the South China Sea, enraging neighbors like Vietnam.

It is unclear how strong a pro-China stance Barbie takes or whether the South China Sea is a topic of discussion in the film beyond the map, but like everything with the movie, this latest ensnarement of a Barbie girl in a very tense world has led to a lot of discourse nonetheless.