Barbie and Ken are splitting

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 1:42pm

It's splitsville for Barbie and Ken
Couple 'will remain friends,' says Mattel
Thursday, February 12, 2004 Posted: 1:06 PM EST (1806 GMT)



Barbie stands alone in a Los Angeles, California, store. She and Ken have broken up, according to Mattel.

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Just like J.Lo and Ben, the romance is over for Barbie and Ken.

After 43 years as one of the world's prettiest pairs, the perfect plastic couple is breaking up. The couple's "business manager," Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, said that Barbie and Ken "feel it's time to spend some quality time -- apart."

"Like other celebrity couples, their Hollywood romance has come to an end," said Arons, who quickly added that the duo "will remain friends."

Arons denied that there was any truth to rumors that the breakup was linked to the Cali (as in California) Girl Barbie, arriving in stores now. To better reflect her single status, Cali Barbie will wear board shorts and a bikini top, metal hoop earrings, and have a deeper tan.

This new style already has attracted a new admirer, Blaine the Australian boogie boarder.

Barbie -- the most popular fashion doll in the world, according to toy maker Mattel -- met Ken on the set of a TV commercial in 1961, and they have been inseparable ever since.

Arons hinted Wednesday that the separation may be partially due to Ken's reluctance to getting married. All those bridal Barbie dolls in toy chests around the globe are really just examples of Barbie's wishful thinking, she explained.

Another possible factor is Barbie's career. The doll who was "born" Barbie Millicent Roberts in 1959 has been everything from a rock star to military medic, and she's currently marketed in more than 150 countries. According to Mattel, every second, three Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world.

So where does that leave Ken? Said Arons: "He will head for other waves."

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:01pm

Well duh! Ken can finally get a boyfriend now! Let's just hope Nicole, I mean Barbie can have a happy future. She'll probably end up with 50 cents's doll or Justin Timberlake's doll. =)

(Or maybe Ken will secretly end up with the latter!)

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:03pm

You know what? I bet Ken was in the closet and just holding onto Barbie to "protect" his reputation. I see Ken officially coming out of the closet while standing next to his longtime lover Alan. (Alan is an actual "Barbie brand" doll. He is marketed as Ken's friend. I looked it up . )

Updated On: 2/12/04 at 02:03 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:05pm

There's an Alan Cummings doll????

=)

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:05pm

Uh HUH. I bet you looked it up--in your toy chest!!

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:10pm

Shhh. You promised not to tell! Haha I just saw this while I was looking things up. Alan is married to Barbie's best friend Midge, and they have a child together. That really throws a kink into things. Haha. I would never have thought talking about Barbie dolls could be this funny. (I had 3 sisters and no brothers so I had to deal with my share of Barbie dolls (Though I only undressed Barbie to see if by any chance she was anatomically correct then I pulled her head off and my sister would cry. I was one messed up child.)

Updated On: 2/12/04 at 02:10 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:11pm

...those who have played with them...


=)

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:16pm

Many years ago, there was a group called the BLS - The Barbie Liberation Society - who went around to Toy stores sabatoging talking Barbies by swapping talking computer chips with talking GI Joes. The newly liberated Barbies barked "VENGANCE IS MINE!" "Eat lead, Cobra!" and "Attack! Attack!" while the unfettered GI Joes cooed "Let's go shopping!' "Will we EVER have enough clothes?" and "Let's plan our dream weddings!"

I wanted a pair of these very, very, very badly.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:19pm

I LOVE IT!

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 2:23pm

me too,

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 3:24pm

Oh my! Has Marc seen this?

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 3:39pm

now this could be an intersting off-broadway musical

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 5:03pm

This is depressing. Poor Barbie :P

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 5:04pm

Oh, please...she's better off without the stiff.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 5:39pm

that's the problem--there was no stiff

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 6:57pm

Ken was much too buff to be hetero. (Actually, I think he had a short fling with Albin a fefw years ago.)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 8:31pm

Did they break up do to "irreconciable differences" or was it "mental cruelty" ?

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 9:23pm

Let me guess Ken is having an affair with GI JOE.
WOO HOO.
I want to watch.
Just kidding. Updated On: 2/12/04 at 09:23 PM

Posted: 2/12/04 at 9:29pm

"Now you know."
"And knowing's part of the game."

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 9:33pm

Did GI Joe seduce Ken.
I think Barbie is having an affair with MANDY or maybe the Katemonster puppet. Katemonster had enough of Princeton and she is after Barbie.

[bwaybaby2]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 10:43pm

Like Son said, Alan is married to Midge. They actually have 2 or 3 kids now and are known as the Happy Family. The pregnant Midge doll was a source of controversy last year as some people thought that Midge didn't have a wedding ring. Midge and Alan have been married since I was a kid, however. (I'm 18 now.) How do I know this stuff? Well, I collect the Happy Family series (::hangs head in shame, knowing that some people might laugh at me::). When I was younger, Mattel produced the Heart Family, and it was a mini-traumatic experience when my mom/I gave the toys away. The Happy Family reminds me a lot of the Heart Family, so I'm compelled to collect the entire series.

[A_Boy_From_Oz]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 10:59pm

I have some single power ranger action figures that I could hook Ken up with

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/12/04 at 11:22pm

I knew this would happen, when I was a Toy-R-Us Times Square last week I could of sworn he cruised me, BIG TIME. I got so flustered I grabbed my Jango Fett and hightailed it out of there.

[Karma76]

Posted: 2/13/04 at 10:25am

well i have seen barbie not be too faithful over the years. in the 80's she had QUITE a thing going with the purple pie man of strawberry shortcake fame!

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 2/13/04 at 11:06am

Too bad that Barbies brains aren't as big as her boobs! Earring Magic Ken was a dead giveaway. How queer was that outfit?