Today show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo defend Bluey 'fat-shaming' episode amid backlash: 'You can't say anything anymore'
Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo have put in their two cents about the recent Bluey backlash over a 'fat-shaming' episode.
The children's television show landed in hot water when it's Exercise episode spread a 'toxic' message about weight, but the Today hosts have defended it.
Speaking up about the divisive issue on the breakfast show Tuesday morning, Karl, 48, told critics to 'give it a rest'.
'Can you believe this, I think that is just fantastic. I mean, it is a bit of Australiana,' he said.
'It plays out in households across Australia and all of these influencers are coming out now going, "Oh, Bluey is fat-shaming, it's disgusting." Give it a rest!'
Karl Stefanovic, 48, (left) and Sarah Abo, 37, (right) have put in their two cents about the recent Bluey backlash over a 'fat-shaming' episode
The children's television show landed in hot water when it's Exercise episode spread a 'toxic' message about weight, but the Today hosts have defended it
Karl went on to say the episode spreads 'a really good message' before adding he's 'had enough of these influencers'.
Co-host Sarah, 37, agreed, saying: 'You can't say anything or do anything anymore.'
Diehard Bluey fans were left very disappointed by the 'toxic' messaging in the recent episode about exercise - with some claiming they had to switch the show off.
The episode began with Bandit and Chilli hopping on the bathroom scales before sighing 'aww man' after seeing the number flash up on the screen.
Bandit, the father figure in the iconic children's show, went on to grab his stomach before deciding he needed to get out and exercise.
Parents appear divided over the episode, with some so uncomfortable they switched it off and others claiming conversations around weight should be normalised.
Speaking up about the divisive issue on the breakfast show Tuesday morning, Karl, 48, told critics to 'give it a rest'
'It could have been such a wonderful episode about not letting your kids hold you back from moving your body, but instead it just seems like a story about Bandit's weight loss and the assumption he had high blood pressure when he was "fat",' one mum fumed.
The conversation generated so much heat from parents that even professionals weighed in.
Dr Kyla Ringrose, a paediatric dietitian, said she would love to see the first 30 seconds of the episode changed.
'I don't want my girls watching other trusted adults (albeit dogs) expressing dissatisfaction with how their bodies look,' she said.
Diehard Bluey fans were left very disappointed by the 'toxic' messaging in the recent episode about exercise - with some claiming they had to switch the show off
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