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Credit: Edited by Inside the MagicIn the wake of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, everyone’s favorite cartoon dog has been seen chanting “Free Palestine!” on controversial merchandise, sucking Bluey into the bitter and violent conflict. Needless to say, it’s no game of Keepy Uppy for either party.
A report from The Daily Mail shared images of an unlicensed seller distributing pro-Palestine merchandise featuring Bluey, Bingo, Indy, Jack, and Mackenzie from Ludo Studio’s successful animated series waving a Palestinian flag under a banner that reads “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
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The slogan comes from a phrase meaning that the Palestinian territories will take over the entirety of Israel’s borders, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The phrase is often associated with antisemitic hate groups, and seeing the characters used in such a way is undeniably in bad taste.
Bluey the “Freedom Fighter?”
The Daily Mail shared,
The ‘Freedom Fighter Bluey’ items were up for sale on Free Palestine Printing’s website but have since been removed after a furious complaint from the BBC, who own the global commercial and broadcast rights to the TV show.
The report also stated that the BBC is acting against the seller, who had no rights to use the character or her likeness to promote its platform. However, some damage might already have been done.
@freepalestineprinting 11k kids killed and they offended over a bluey shirt.
The TikTok above posted by @freepalestineprinting further illustrates the matter and the reception of the controversial shirt. While both sides have shared their perspectives on the action, it should be noted that this did not come from Bluey’s official source or creators.
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The conflict in the Gaza Strip has resulted in an influx of antisemitic crimes and activity, and Bluey’s Jewish audience is feeling the heat from this latest development. The Daily Mail includes the following statement,
“Australia’s Jewish community along with civil rights organisations have denounced the website and accused it of trying to ‘co-opt young people and turn them against their Jewish friends’.”
According to Australia’s news.com, the unliscenced Bluey merch has been taken off the website, but this hasn’t spared the Heelers from the social political drama.
This isn’t the first time Bluey, Bingo, and all the rest have been involved in someone’s political agenda. In 2023, the cartoon canines wore MAGA hats and star-spangled regalia in pro-Trump, pro-republican artwork and imagery.
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At the time of writing, neither Ludo nor Bluey creator Joe Brumm have issued a statement regarding the controversy. However, the studio has announced a slew of upcoming new episodes on Disney+ and Disney Junior, as well as a massive season finale.
Have you seen any Free Palestine Bluey merch? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!