Courtroom Battle Erupts as Spitting Image Studio Confronts Lawsuit Over Paddington Bear Portrayal
For countless fans who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed creation represents the very essence of English politeness and understatement – rendering this new portrayal as a drug-taking, potty-mouthed podcast host especially challenging.
However, the satirical overhaul of Paddington by the creators behind Spitting Image has proven excessive for the production company and rights holders that own the intellectual property.
Court Action Initiated Against Studio
The film producers, responsible for the hit Paddington movies, are joining forces with Bond's estate to sue UK-based production company Avalon, which created Paddington's radical reimagining.
A high court complaint, first reported by industry media, cites intellectual property and design right concerns. The court filing doesn't detail the particulars of the claim, but it follows Paddington's appearance in the most recent Spitting Image YouTube program, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
The show features sketches about tech billionaires, Donald Trump and Keir Starmer. It also satirizes widespread podcasts where hosts talk about achieving success.
Controversial Portrayal Details
The show is hosted by a characteristic Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a unkempt Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by proclaiming he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the award-winning actor who voices the character in recent movie versions.
He then changes to a generic South American accent before exclaiming: "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 starring role in the Netflix series Narcos, as Pablo Escobear. It is a joke. Laugh, muchachos."
At the end of the episode, a chaotic Paddington is shown snorting a white powder before seemingly losing consciousness.
Background Information of Comedy Program
The legal proceedings come three months after Avalon launched The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a jab at the successful collection of podcasts produced by various media companies.
The show's debut on YouTube in July marked a new chapter for Spitting Image, which has a rich history of offending its targets – usually politicians, rather than beloved 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 streaming service BritBox
- Lasted two series before being cancelled again
Digital Transformation
Its new incarnation on YouTube has been adapted for the platform. Episodes are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to appeal to viewers who scroll through suggested videos.
In the premiere episode, viewed more than 500,000 times, Paddington and Harry speak with 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 subsequently says the key to his personal glow is "100% Peruvian, biodynamic, organic, catastrophic cocaine."
The pair also present an commercial for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you."
The bear starts another section by commenting: "And that's why I said 'no' to Harry Potter. Paddington Bear gets out his wand for no one."
Company Statements
The film company refused to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the matter was the subject of court action.
Avalon has been contacted for comment.
