Legal Dispute Breaks Out as Spitting Image Studio Faces Lawsuit Over Beloved Character Portrayal
For countless fans who cherish Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's jam-obsessed character represents the quintessence of English politeness and understatement – rendering this new depiction as a drug-taking, foul-mouthed podcast host especially challenging.
Nevertheless, the comedic reinterpretation of Paddington by the team behind Spitting Image has turned out to be excessive for the production company and rights holders that control the character's rights.
Court Action Launched Against Studio
StudioCanal, behind the successful Paddington movies, are joining forces with Bond's estate to sue British production company Avalon, which produced Paddington's radical reimagining.
A high court complaint, 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 program, titled The Rest Is Bulls*!t.
This production includes sketches about tech billionaires, Donald Trump and Keir Starmer. It also parodies ubiquitous podcasts where hosts discuss achieving success.
Controversial Portrayal Particulars
The program is presented by a typical Spitting Image-style puppet of Prince Harry and a dishevelled-looking Paddington. In the premiere, Paddington starts by proclaiming he doesn't actually talk like Ben Whishaw, the award-winning actor who portrays the character in latest movie versions.
He then switches to a stereotypical 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 conclusion of the episode, a chaotic Paddington is seen inhaling a white powder before apparently losing consciousness.
Historical Context of Satirical Show
The court action come three months after Avalon premiered The Rest Is Bulls*!t, a poke at the successful collection of podcasts produced by multiple media companies.
The show's debut on YouTube in July signaled a new chapter for Spitting Image, which has a long tradition of offending its targets – usually politicians, rather than treasured children's characters.
- Initial run was among the popular programmes in the 1980s
- Ended only in 1996 after ratings waned
- 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 service. Shows are between 10 and 15 minutes, created to appeal to viewers who scroll through recommended content.
In the premiere episode, viewed more than 500,000 times, Paddington and Harry interview Musk, and Paddington encourages 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 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
The film company declined to comment. A representative for Michael Bond's estate said they were unable to speak as the issue was the focus of court action.
Avalon has been reached out to for response.