The Warner Bros. Film Group in the US has apologized for its 'insensitive' reaction Barbenheimer memes after they were accused of 'trivialising' the atomic bomb.
The film company's social media activity has caused major offence to Warner Bros. Japan, who posted a statement on its official X account.
Estimates suggest that 70,000 people at Hiroshima and 40,000 at Nagasaki died at the hands of J. Robert Oppenheimer's atomic bombs back in 1945.
“We consider it extremely regrettable that the official account of the American headquarters for the movie ‘Barbie’ reacted to the social media postings of ‘Barbenheimer’ fans,” Warner Bros. Japan wrote on X.
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“We take this situation very seriously.
“We are asking the U.S. headquarters to take appropriate action.
“We apologize to those who were offended by this series of inconsiderate reactions. Warner Bros Japan.”
Warner Bros. Japan were said to have been responding to controversial fan art, one of which shows Margot Robbie’s Barbie sitting on the shoulders of Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer in front of an atomic mushroom cloud.
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Barbie's US X account replied: “It’s going to be a summer to remember.”
An X note on the post read: “At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945 (Showa 20), an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima for the first time in human history.
“The particular nature of the damage caused by the atomic bombs is that mass destruction and mass murder occurred instantaneously and indiscriminately.”
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Apologising for their actions, the company said in a statement emailed to Variety on Tuesday (1 Aug): “Warner Brothers regrets its recent insensitive social media engagement.
“The studio offers a sincere apology.”
There remains no release date for Oppenheimer in Japan.
Barbie earned 182 million dollars from 69 territories, fuelling a $337 million dollar global weekend.
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Oppenheimer made 93.7 million dollars from 78 territories, ranking above Barbie in India, for a $174.2 million dollar global total.
“It’s just a joyous time in the world. This is history in so many ways,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros’s president of domestic distribution. “I think this marketing campaign is one for the ages that people will be talking about forever.”
“The ‘Barbenheimer’ thing was a real boost for both movies,” Mr Goldstein said. “It is a crowning achievement for all of us.”
“This is a phenomenon beyond compare,” said Rich Gelfond, the chief executive of IMAX, in a statement. “Around the world, we’ve seen sellouts at 4am shows and people travelling hours across borders to see Oppenheimer in IMAX 70mm.”
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UNILAD has contacted Warner Bros. for additional comment.
Topics: Barbie, Oppenheimer, Film and TV, Warner Bros, World News, US News