Internet memes referencing the films "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" have caused anger in Japan due to their insensitive use of imagery related to the atomic bomb attacks during World War II.
The memes combine images of Barbie and Oppenheimer, with one showing Barbie on Oppenheimer's shoulders against an apocalyptic blast backdrop, causing offense to Japanese users.
Japan is the only country to have experienced nuclear attacks in wartime, with around 140,000 people dying in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki in 1945.
Japanese social media users expressed their anger with the hashtag #NoBarbenheimer, urging the creators to understand the devastation caused by the atomic bombs.
Warner Bros. Japan, the distributor of the "Barbie" movie, apologized for the inconsiderate reactions and urged appropriate action in response to the offending tweets.
Despite the apologies, angry Twitter users responded by sharing edited posters featuring Barbie with Osama Bin Laden and using imagery from the 9/11 terror attack.
Some users shared animated movie clips detailing the horrifying effects of the atomic blasts, emphasizing the seriousness of the topic.
Twitter users pleaded for the end of using the mushroom cloud meme, stating that the atomic bombs were not a joke and reminding people to respect the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
"Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" were both major box-office successes, collectively earning over $1 Billion in their first week of release.
The controversy surrounding the memes highlights the importance of being mindful of historical contexts and sensitive topics while using internet memes and social media platforms.