Scene Removed from ‘Bluey’ After Being Accused of Fat Shaming

Tired mums and dads everywhere rejoiced when Disney+ announced Season 3 of the steaming phenomenon Bluey would be available in August 2022. A series that has gained a cult following on TikTok and beyond, Bluey is an insanely popular Australian BBC series that has reached Disney fans’ living rooms and heartstrings all over the map.

Recent data has positioned Bluey in the top 10 most popular shows on Disney+ as of 2023, and for parents who watch along with their kids, that’s no surprise. A Blue Heeler pup in Brisbane, Bluey and her vivacious sister, Bingo, show viewers the magic that can be found in something as small as a “walking leaf” bug throughout their imaginative adventures.

While Bluey and Bingo’s sweet sisterhood captivates kiddos, Bluey’s dad, Bandit, and Mum, Chilli, speak directly to parents while delicately holding space for the ups and downs of parenthood. With such a vibrant show with emotionally-sensitive themes, how did it become the center of a fat-shaming controversy?

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In a Season 3 episode that has yet to air in the US called “Exercise,” Bandit is shown weighing himself on a scale in the bathroom and grabbing his belly. After Bandit sighs, “Oh man, I just need to do some exercise,” his wife, Chilli, agrees. 

The scene was met with backlash on social media, including from @psychocinematic, who expressed her disappointment in the beloved Bluey:

I adore @OfficialBlueyTV & the messages it sends. Except in the latest episode “Exercise”, where weight becomes a trigger for exercise. Watching Bandit stand on scale& squeeze his belly, frowning, sends a msg to kids that fat = bad & exercise = weight loss. V upsetting. #Bluey

I adore @OfficialBlueyTV & the messages it sends. Except in the latest episode “Exercise”, where weight becomes a trigger for exercise. Watching Bandit stand on scale& squeeze his belly, frowning, sends a msg to kids that fat = bad & exercise = weight loss. V upsetting. #Bluey pic.twitter.com/68GAWzNeLk

— Psychocinematic Podcast (@psychocinematic) April 16, 2023

While others clapped back, calling the scene harmless, the ABC (Australia Broadcasting Corporation) decided to pull the scene from the show. They justified the move to air on the side of caution in the following statement:

The recent episode of Bluey, Exercise, has been republished by the ABC following a decision by the makers of the program. The new version provides families with the opportunity 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.

BBC Studios will use this revised version for global distribution and also support this decision.

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Stateside Disney+ streamers are still awaiting the release of the next Bluey episode batch, but one thing’s for sure—they won’t be seeing any bathroom scenes when they air.