EARLIER THIS MONTH, Mattel released Moschino Barbie, a collectors’ edition $150 doll wearing clothes designed by the brand’s creative director Jeremy Scott.
An ad spot for the doll semi-ironically references retro Barbie commercials (that jingle!) and stars a trio of adorable children:
The ad is believed to be the first ever Barbie spot to feature a boy, and he completely steals the show, sporting Scott’s signature mohawk hairstyle.
The ad has been heralded as another step towards gender neutral toys – recently, US chain Target announced it would be organising toys by category, instead of by gender.
Reaction has been positive from supporters of the gender neutral toys movement, and also from men who felt shame for playing with Barbies as kids. Pandora Boxx, drag queen and star of Rupaul’s Drag Race, commented on YouTube:
This almost made me cry! I used to play with my sister’s Barbies and felt such shame afterward. I’m so glad we can just let kids be kids. Thank you for this! Boys like dolls too!
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