Two episodes of beloved Aussie kids show Bluey, which follows the life of a six-year-old cartoon Blue Heeler, were pulled by the ABC after several viewers complained of a phrase used that has racist connotations.
The episodes in question – Teasing and Flat Pack – used the term “Ooga-Booga” as a nickname given to Bandit by Bluey and Bingo, however, viewers have since raised concerns to the network that the term is offensive to Aboriginal people.
Following the complaints, ABC released a statement explaining that the term has “racial connotations and a problematic history for Indigenous Australians’ and [they] have decided to temporarily dump the two episodes.”
The statement continued: “The ABC sincerely apologised to the complainant for any distress caused by the term used in the episode titled Teasing. The ABC has a strong record for giving voice to Indigenous Australians and an ongoing commitment to helping reduce discrimination and prejudice and in this case, the language used was inadvertent.”
“The complainant was advised that neither the ABC nor the external producers were aware of the potentially derogatory meaning of the term, which was intended only as irreverent rhyming slang often made up by children. The episode was removed from iview as soon as ABC KIDS became aware of the complaint and the ABC undertook to change the dialogue prior to future broadcast or publication.”
Following ABC’s announcement on social media that the episodes would be pulled from the network, the reaction was mixed, though one fan made gave a sobering explanation of why the word is so offensive.
“I know to many you just see this word as ‘caveman speak’, or in the harmless way the writers clearly did too,” the social media user shared in a Bluey fan page on Facebook.
“But not everyone sees it that way. Including me. I’m in my 40’s, and I well remember a time growing up in Western Sydney where the phrase ‘Ooga Booga/s’ was used conversationally to describe a dark-skinned person/s. It was used in social circles, in movies or TV depicting black indigenous people as ‘uncivilised fools,’” they added.
“I personally balked at hearing it used in Teasing but never said anything because I thought it was maybe just me.”
The two Bluey episodes have reportedly been re-worked, with Flat Pack now available to view again, while Teasing will return early next month.
