People in Japan have started posting 9/11 memes in reaction to the Barbenheimer memes trending on social media over the past couple of weeks.
Barbie and Oppenheimer opened in cinemas on the same weekend in July.
The buzz around the two movies led to the term 'Barbenheimer' being coined to describe the pop culture phenomenon of two highly anticipated yet completely different films.
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And with pop culture moments come memes.
Over the past couple of weeks, social media has been awash with memes combining elements of the two movies - one about a doll who likes to wear a lot a pink, and one about the most dangerous weapon ever created.
But people have rightly pointed out that some of the memes seem to celebrate and glorify the atomic bomb and that this is insensitive to the people of Japan.
While others have began to post 9/11 memes on social media in retaliation.
"The atomic bomb should not be used as a meme and turned into a comedy. Do you know how many people were brutally murdered by the atomic bomb? Will Barbie advertise the Holocaust as well?," one person wrote on Twitter.
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"Shame on you."
The Japanese branch of Warner Bros called out the American branch for engaging with the memes.
“We find it extremely regrettable that the official account of the American headquarters for the movie Barbie reacted to the social media postings of ‘Barbenheimer’ fans," it stated on its official account.
It continued: “We take this situation very seriously. We are asking the US headquarters to take appropriate action. We apologise to those who were offended by this series of inconsiderate reactions.”
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Warner Bros replied to one meme showing Barbie's Margot Robbie with a hairstyle in the shape of a mushroom cloud, which was a reference to the atomic bomb featured in Christopher Nolan’s biographical drama Oppenheimer. The social media account wrote in response: “This Ken is a stylist”.
Warner Bros also replied: “It’s going to be a summer to be remembered", to a meme showing Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy carrying Robbie through a burning city.
The American branch of Warner Bros has since apologised.
“Warner Brothers regrets its recent insensitive social media engagement. The studio offers a sincere apology,” they wrote on their official account.
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This month marks the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb attacks, which led to the deaths of an estimated 129,000 to 226,000 people.
Topics: News, Film and TV, Barbie, Oppenheimer
