The ABC has agreed to shorten a controversial episode of the children’s show Bluey again due to viewer pressure.
The beloved animated series about a dog family got into trouble with fans last month over a “fat shaming” scene.
And the offending moment, just seconds long, has now been edited by the show’s producers, Ludo Studios, with the support of National Broadcaster Reports TV black box.
The controversy centered around the Exercise episode, in which Bluey’s father, Bandit, decided he needed to get fit, after complaining about his expanding stomach.
Some parents were disappointed by what they saw as ‘poisonous’ messages.
Pictured: Bluey” class=”blkBorder img-share” />
The ABC has agreed to support producers after they decided to recut a controversial episode of the children’s show Bluey due to viewer pressure. Pictured: Bluey
Critics of the scene said it sparked anxiety about body image rather than the health benefits of exercise.
Meanwhile, an ABC spokesperson said: “The new version gives families the ability to manage important conversations in their own way.
“As the home of Bluey, the ABC supports the decision to re-edit the program and we have updated the episode on our platforms.”
The controversy centered around the Exercise episode, in which Bluey’s dad, Bandit, decided he needed to get fit after complaining about his expanding stomach (pictured). TV Blackbox reports with the support of the national broadcaster
Critics of the scene said it sparked fears about body image rather than the health benefits of exercise Pictured: A meme by a Bluey fan complaining about the scene
According to the report, BBC Studios, Bluey’s global distributor, will carry the edited version of the controversial Exercise episode.
It comes after ddie hard Bluey fans claimed they had to turn off the show after seeing the so-called ‘fat shame’ scene.
The episode started with Bandit and Chilli jumping on the scales before sighing “aww man” after seeing the number flash on screen.
Bandit, the father figure in the iconic children’s show, then grabbed his stomach before deciding he needed to go outside and work out.
Parents seem split on the episode, some so uncomfortable they turn it off and others arguing conversations about weight should be normalized.
It could have been such a great episode about how your kids don’t stop you from moving your body, but instead it just seems like a story about Bandit’s weight loss and the assumption that he had high blood pressure when he was “fat.” used to be.’ a mother was furious.
Meanwhile, Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo came out to defend the show against viewer backlash.
Karl Stefanovic, 48, (left) and Sarah Abo, 37, (right) supported Bluey on the Today show after viewer backlash last month
Karl, 48, spoke about the divisive issue on the Today breakfast show, telling critics to ‘leave it alone’.
‘Can you believe this, I think that’s just fantastic. I mean, it’s kind of Australiana,’ he said.
“It’s set in households across Australia and all these influencers are now coming out and saying, ‘Oh, Bluey is fat-shaming, it’s disgusting.
‘ Let it rest!’
Karl went on to say that the episode sends out “a really good message” before adding that he’s “fed up with these influencers.”
Co-host Sarah, 37, agreed, saying: “There’s nothing more you can say or do.”