'Ribbondoll' Craze in Brazil
Controversy Over Sensational Influencer Content
Bill Proposed to Ban Dolls from Public Healthcare Services
In Brazil, content featuring "Ribbondolls," dolls that closely resemble real babies, has become a hot topic. However, controversy has recently arisen after an influencer posted a video staged to make it appear as though she was taking the doll to a hospital for treatment. In response, Brazilian lawmakers are pushing for legislation to prevent dolls from receiving public healthcare services.
Brazilian influencer Yasmin Becker has sparked controversy by releasing a video showing the process of taking her Ribbondoll "Bento" to the hospital. TikTok.
According to the Associated Press on May 30 (local time), Ribbondoll videos are gaining popularity in Brazil. These videos depict scenarios such as staging a childbirth with a Ribbondoll or taking the doll for a walk in a shopping mall. Ribbondolls are handmade baby-shaped dolls, with skin, veins, hair, body temperature, and weight that closely mimic those of real infants. In Brazil, the price of a Ribbondoll ranges from 700 reais (approximately 170,000 won) to as much as 10,000 reais (approximately 2.42 million won).
As Ribbondolls have grown in popularity, politicians are also responding. The Rio de Janeiro City Council has passed a bill to designate a "Ribbondoll Makers' Day" as an official commemorative day, which is now awaiting the signature of Mayor Eduardo Paes.
However, controversy erupted recently when Brazilian influencer Yasmin Becker released a video showing the process of taking her Ribbondoll "Bento" to the hospital. She was criticized for inappropriately using hospital facilities for the sake of content creation.
In the video, Yasmin packs items such as diapers, a milk bottle, and a blanket in a bag, claiming that the doll is in poor health, as if a real baby were being taken to the hospital. Scenes in the hospital show the doll being placed on a scale and laid on a hospital bed. The video has garnered more than 8.4 million views.
In response, some state legislators in Brazil have introduced bills to prohibit Ribbondolls or inanimate objects from using hospitals and other public health services. State legislator Joao Luiz Amazonas also recently appeared in the state assembly with a Ribbondoll, announcing plans to push for legislation to prevent dolls from receiving treatment in the public healthcare system. However, local health authorities stated that there have been no medical records related to Ribbondolls.
There has also been criticism that influencers' actions have led to misunderstandings about Ribbondolls. While Ribbondolls are generally used for grief therapy or parenting practice, some influencers' content has distorted their original purpose.
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