The promotional campaign of the new film of Barbie has generated an unexpected stir in France due to an unfortunate translation error in one of the posters. The phrase “he’s just Ken”, which seeks to highlight Barbie’s role, has been misinterpreted in the French translation, generating an obscene message and unleashing a controversy on social networks.
Since the release of its posters, “Barbie” has captured the attention of the whole world. The catchy phrase “she is everything, he is just Ken”, has been the subject of memes and all kinds of comments on the networks. However, this translation error on the promotional poster for France has given an unexpected turn to the situation.
Controversy over “Barbie” poster in France
Instead of conveying the message that Ken is just a companion within the Barbie universe, the mistranslation has spawned a phrase with sexual connotations. The word “Ken” in French has been interpreted in an obscene way, giving rise to the phrase “he only knows how to have sex.” This slip has generated quite a stir on social media, especially among French users.
controversial poster of #Barbie for the French public where it reads: “Elle peut tout faire. Lui, c’est juste Ken”, which can be translated in colloquial language, as: “She can do everything. He only knows how to fuck”. Because “ken” in the French slang means “to fuck”. pic.twitter.com/irFi1TofWK
— 🎬J Moreno P📽️ (@Pp_CineTV) June 26, 2023
Although so far no formal complaints have been filed or a boycott organized against the film, some Twitter users have argued that this type of content is not appropriate for your children to see, much less to be exposed publicly like the rest. of the posters in the cinema.
This incident highlights the importance of accuracy in translating and proofreading international promotional campaigns. Details and cultural connotations must be taken into account to avoid misunderstandings and awkward situations. The controversy generated by this error underscores the need for translators and experts.
The controversial advertising campaign of “Barbie” does not stop
So far, the film’s producer has not issued an official statement about the translation error. However, it is expected that steps will be taken to rectify the situation, from removing the hundreds of thousands of posters that have been put up all over France, to printing and putting up new ones.
The international market is extremely important for Hollywood productions, so it is hoped that the people behind the campaign will not make the same mistake again.