Legal Battle Erupts as Satirical Show Production Company Faces Lawsuit Over Paddington Bear Portrayal
Among countless fans who adore Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed creation represents the quintessence of British courtesy and understatement – rendering this new portrayal as a drug-taking, foul-mouthed podcast host especially controversial.
Nevertheless, the satirical overhaul of Paddington by the creators behind Spitting Image has turned out to be too much for the production company and rights holders that control the intellectual property.
Court Action Launched Against Production Company
The film producers, behind the successful Paddington movies, are partnering with Bond's estate to take legal action against British production company Avalon, which produced Paddington's radical reimagining.
A legal filing, first reported by industry publications, cites copyright and design right concerns. The court filing omits the particulars of the claim, but it follows Paddington's inclusion in the latest Spitting Image YouTube program, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
The show features segments about tech billionaires, Donald Trump and Keir Starmer. It also parodies widespread podcasts where hosts talk about achieving success.
Disputed Characterization Details
The program is hosted by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by declaring he doesn't really talk like Ben Whishaw, the prize-earning actor who portrays the character in recent movie versions.
He then changes to a stereotypical South American accent before shouting: "I am from Peru, motherfuckers – I am Paddington Bear from Peru! You probably 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 segment, a disorderly Paddington is shown inhaling a white powder before apparently passing out.
Historical Context of Comedy Program
The court action come three months after Avalon premiered The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a jab at the successful stable of podcasts produced by various media companies.
The show's launch on YouTube in July marked a fresh phase for Spitting Image, which has a long tradition of offending its targets – usually politicians, rather than beloved children's characters.
- Initial run was one of the most-watched programmes in the 1980s
- Ended only in 1996 after ratings waned
- Revived in 2020 for streaming service BritBox
- Continued for two series before being discontinued once more
Platform Adaptation
Its new incarnation on YouTube has been adapted for the service. Shows are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to attract viewers who scroll through suggested videos.
In the premiere episode, watched more than half a million times, Paddington and Harry speak with Musk, and Paddington urges the conservative 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 pair also present an commercial for guns. Paddington says: "Go to Bogotá and ask for Matthias. Tell him Paddington sent you."
The bear begins another segment by commenting: "And that's why I said 'no' to Harry Potter. Paddington Bear gets out his wand for no one."
Company Statements
StudioCanal declined to comment. A spokesperson for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the issue was the focus of legal proceedings.
Avalon has been reached out to for response.
