Many are reacting with outrage after conservative commentator and professing Christian Steven Crowder mocked Mattel’s newly released Barbie doll with Down syndrome. While a clip Crowder posted to Twitter has shocked a number of people, Crowder and those joining him on his show, “Louder with Crowder,” went on to make jokes about the situation that escalated in offensiveness.
“This is gross,” said Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “Christianity sees every human as being made in the image of God and possessing full value and dignity. [A] reflexively reactionary conservativism without Christianity will become as toxic as the progressivism it seeks to oppose.”
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This is gross. Christianity sees every human as being made in the image of God and possessing full value and dignity. A a reflexively reactionary conservativism without Christianity will become as toxic as the progressivism it seeks to oppose. https://t.co/enr5mMTsro
— Daniel Darling (@dandarling) April 27, 2023
Barbie Doll With Down Syndrome Released Tuesday
In a statement Tuesday, Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, said:
As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play…We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play.
Barbie partnered with National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to make sure the new doll reflected the characteristics of people with Down syndrome. The Barbie doll’s outfit is symbolic, incorporating colors that stand for Down syndrome awareness and featuring a necklace that represents the chromosomes that cause Down syndrome. The doll also comes with pink ankle foot orthotics, worn by some children who have Down syndrome.
“This means so much for our community, who for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them,” said NDSS president and CEO Kandi Pickard. “This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating.”
The new Barbie doll is part of Mattel’s Barbie® Fashionistas™ line, which celebrates “diversity and [offers] endless possibilities for storytelling and fashion exploration. Other dolls in this line include those with various body types, skin tones and hair textures, as well as a doll with a wheelchair and ramp and a doll with a prosthetic leg.
While many are welcoming the news about the Barbie doll with Down syndrome, Steven Crowder has said that he thinks the doll is “stupid.”
