Bluey: scene removed from Exercise episode after complaints about fat-shaming

The ABC has removed part of a Bluey episode that sparked accusations of fat-shaming and fatphobia.

It has now republished a version of the popular cartoon without a bathroom scene that showed Bluey’s parents complaining about their weight.

The episode, called Exercise, showed Bluey’s dad, Bandit, in the bathroom brushing his teeth and weighing himself while Bluey is in the bath.

“Oh man ... I just need to do some exercise,” Bandit says.

“Tell me about it,” Bluey’s mother, Chilli, says as she walks in with Bluey’s sister, Bingo.

Bandit looks at himself in the mirror, holding his sides.

“Why don’t you just do some exercise?” Bluey asks.

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There was a backlash against the episode from body image experts, saying it could pass on weight stigmas and fatphobia to children.

The episode now starts abruptly at the previous 1 minute 13 second mark, with Bandit doing some exercise – or trying to, while Bluey and Bingo try to turn it into a game – in the backyard.

Bandit then goes to the GP, who tells him he’s in “great shape” and asks if he’s been going to the gym.

“Nah,” Bandit says. “It’s been coming to me.”

The ABC said: “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.”

Dr Sarah Squire, the head of knowledge, research and policy at the Butterfly Foundation, which offers support for people with eating disorders, thanked the ABC for “listening and responding”.

“Cartoon dogs avoiding diet culture for the win!” she tweeted.

In a statement, the foundation said: “Butterfly is thrilled that the producers of Bluey have been so responsive to community feedback in removing this problematic content. We love Bluey and are very happy with this result.”

Dr Hannah Jarman, a research fellow at Deakin University’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, said it was “great to see the ABC and makers of the program taking the issue seriously and being so quick to respond”.

“Rather than promoting and normalising negative attitudes about our bodies, we should be encouraging our children to have healthy relationships with their bodies, including engaging in exercise and movement in enjoyable ways,” she said.

ReachOut Parents’ clinical lead, Linda Williams, said body image was a complex topic, and that negative feelings about bodies can start at a young age.

“Parents can play a key role in helping their children and teens to develop positive body image,” she said. “One powerful way to do so is by role modelling the attitudes and behaviours you would like your child to adopt.

“Role modelling isn’t about being perfect or always feeling positive about your own body, however it is about reflecting on things like how you speak about your body in front of your young person and potentially adapting some of your own behaviours.”

Earlier in the month Today show host Karl Stefanovic defended the episode on Channel Nine, saying its critics needed to “give it a rest”. He said the storyline was an accurate depiction of a situation that “plays out in households across Australia”.

Former deputy chief medical officer of Australia Dr Nick Coatsworth had a very simple message on Friday: “Stop editing Bluey.”