Legal Battle Erupts as Spitting Image Studio Confronts Lawsuit Over Beloved Character Portrayal
Among countless fans who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed creation represents the quintessence of English politeness and understatement – making this new depiction as a substance-using, potty-mouthed podcast host particularly controversial.
However, the satirical overhaul of Paddington by the creators behind Spitting Image has turned out to be excessive for the film studio and rights holders that control the intellectual property.
Legal Proceedings Initiated Against Production Company
The film producers, behind the hit Paddington movies, are joining forces with Bond's estate to take legal action against British production company Avalon, which created Paddington's radical reimagining.
A legal filing, initially covered by industry publications, cites intellectual property and design right issues. The court filing omits the specifics of the allegations, but it comes after Paddington's inclusion in the latest Spitting Image YouTube show, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
This production includes sketches about tech billionaires, former presidents and political figures. It also parodies widespread podcasts where hosts discuss reaching goals.
Controversial Portrayal Particulars
The program is hosted by a characteristic Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by proclaiming he doesn't really talk like Ben Whishaw, the prize-earning actor who voices the character in recent movie versions.
He then switches to a stereotypical South American accent before shouting: "I am from Peru, motherfuckers – I am Paddington Bear from Peru! You most likely remember me from the films Paddington, Paddington 2 and Paddington in Peru. I also had a major part in the Netflix series Narcos, as Pablo Escobear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos."
At the conclusion of the segment, a chaotic Paddington is shown snorting a white powder before apparently losing consciousness.
Background Information of Satirical Show
The court action come several weeks after Avalon launched The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the popular stable of podcasts produced by multiple media companies.
The show's launch on YouTube in July signaled a fresh phase for Spitting Image, which has a long tradition of upsetting its subjects – usually politicians, rather than treasured children's characters.
- Initial run was one of the popular programmes in the 1980s
- Cancelled only in 1996 after viewing figures declined
- Rebooted in 2020 for digital platform BritBox
- Lasted two series before being cancelled again
Digital Transformation
Its new incarnation on YouTube has been tailored for the platform. Shows are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to attract viewers who scroll through suggested videos.
In the first show, viewed more than 500,000 times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington encourages the rightwing billionaire to go to Mars. "You are too much genius for one planet," he says. "As I say about my cocaine, it is only right to share."
He later says the key to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine."
The duo also announce an advert for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you."
The bear begins another section by observing: "And that's why I said 'no' to Harry Potter. Paddington Bear gets out his wand for no one."
Official Responses
StudioCanal declined to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they could not comment as the matter was the subject of legal proceedings.
Avalon has been reached out to for response.
