Warner Bros. Film Group in the U.S. has issued a public apology for its recent social media activity related to the “Barbenheimer” meme, which caused significant offense in Japan.
In a statement emailed to Variety on Tuesday, the studio expressed regret for its insensitive engagement on social media and offered a sincere apology. This decision came in response to the backlash and criticism faced by Warner Bros. in Japan, including an online petition against the studio and a rare move by the Japanese distribution arm of Warner.
The controversy stemmed from the “Barbenheimer” craze on social media, which refers to the dual summer releases of Universal’s “Oppenheimer” and Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” movies. The U.S. Twitter account of “Barbie” had positively interacted with some fan posts about the meme, causing dissatisfaction and concern in Japan.
Both “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” films were released on July 21 in North America and various international territories, becoming major box office successes. Their simultaneous debut contributed to the fourth highest-grossing weekend in box office history. However, Warner Bros. Japan’s criticism of the U.S. branch for engaging in the “Barbenheimer” trend prompted the company to issue an apology and acknowledge the impact of its social media activity.
I apologize for any inaccuracies in my previous responses. Based on the new information, it is clear that the film “Oppenheimer” has not been released in Japan, and no release date has been determined yet. The “Barbenheimer” meme has caused major offense in Japan, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the nuclear weapons debate in the country.
Warner Bros. Japan issued a statement expressing deep regret about the social media activity related to the “Barbenheimer” meme. The official “Barbie” U.S. Twitter account had interacted positively with some fan posts about the meme, including one depicting Margot Robbie’s Barbie sitting on the shoulders of Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer in front of a fiery atomic mushroom cloud. This reaction drew significant criticism in Japan, as it appeared to make light of the mass destruction caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
The controversy surrounding the “Barbenheimer” meme underscores the continuing sensitivity of the nuclear weapons debate in Japan, where the bombings had devastating consequences, leading to the loss of many lives. The hashtag #NoBarbenheimer trended in Japan as a response to the meme, reflecting the public’s concern and disapproval of its implications.
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