Latest news with #rebornDolls
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hyper-realistic baby dolls spark moral panic and legislation in Brazil
Even as a former president stands trial for attempting a coup and the current leader grapples with the worst popularity crisis of his three terms, many Brazilians have spent recent weeks focused on a very different subject. On social media, in soap operas, and in newly proposed laws, it seemed that hyper-realistic baby dolls were everywhere. About 30 bills concerning these figurines, known as 'reborn' dolls, have been introduced across Brazil, including proposals to ban them from receiving public healthcare or to prohibit collectors from using them to claim priority in queues for public services. Videos of collectors bathing their dolls, tucking them into bed or pushing them in prams spread widely across social media – often accompanied by critical commentary or ridicule, such as a satirical rap song encouraging people to kick the dolls in the street. The controversy reached a disturbing peak on 6 June, when a man slapped a four-month-old baby on the head, claiming he had mistaken the infant for one of the dolls. He is out on bail, and the baby is reportedly doing well. 'I can't recall any other issue that, in such a short period, managed to spark so many bills across different levels of government like this,' said Isabela Kalil, a political science and anthropology professor at the FESPSP university. However, a closer look reveals that the laws are banning things that, in practice, are not happening: so far there has been only one confirmed case of someone attempting to take a doll to a public hospital, reportedly involving a woman with a psychiatric disorder. The wave of controversy appears to have been ridden by politicians on the right: according to the news website UOL, all bills presented in May concerning reborn dolls were proposed by rightwing and far-right lawmakers. 'If a topic is trending, these politicians will propose laws about it even if they make no sense,' said Kalil, who also coordinates a research group about the Brazilian far right. She highlights the timing: the country's leading far-right figure, former president Jair Bolsonaro, is now on trial for an attempted coup and, after a prior ruling by the electoral court, is already barred from standing in next year's elections. 'So there is also an element of grabbing attention and pushing an agenda, especially when the right wing camp is in crisis over Bolsonaro's trial and no one knows who will emerge as their new leader,' she said. Kalil notes that, although the right is politically benefiting from the controversy, criticism and mockery on social media have come from all sides, including the left. Ultimately, the victims are the women who make up the majority of collectors, artisans and content creators on the subject. 'I'm receiving daily threats through social media,' said artist and collector Larissa Vedolin, 25, who uses the artistic name Emily Reborn online. 'I get messages from anonymous accounts saying things like: 'I can't wait to get a gun and find you on the street',' she added. The 'reborn community' has been trying to understand why such an intense backlash has emerged against a type of collecting that has existed in Brazil since at least the early 2000s. There is a degree of consensus that the recent wave began with a TikTok video posted by a collector who said she had been called 'crazy' for taking one of her dolls to the shopping centre. Shortly after, another video went viral showing a doll being 'treated' at a hospital. The collector later explained it was a role play, but that did not stop widespread reposts portraying it as real. Artist and collector Bianca Miranda, 27, says that in the 14 years she has been immersed in the reborn world, she has never encountered anyone who treats the dolls as actual children. 'I have always known they were dolls and have always treated them as such, and today I understand the amount of love and work involved in making one.' Related: 'People don't get it': inside the world of hyper-realistic baby doll collecting Completing one, which costs anywhere from £200 to £2,500, can take weeks depending on its complexity – for instance, whether the hair is painted or implanted strand by strand. 'The first reaction of the average internet user these days is to find something to shout at,' said YouTuber Chico Barney, who filmed a collectors' gathering in São Paulo for his documentary Reborn Babies Don't Cry. 'We went there with open minds to see what happens at a reborn doll event … When we arrived, I was surprised by how un-eccentric it all was. It was just a bunch of people exchanging ideas about something they enjoy,' he said. For Kalil, an anthropologist, the controversy also reveals an element of pathologising women, as if owning or playing with hyper-realistic dolls were a sign of mental illness. 'Adult men can collect action figures or play video games without raising eyebrows. But adult women are not allowed the luxury of entertainment,' she said. The artist Vedolin argues that the dolls 'are not toys, but works of art'. However, practising it has taken on bitter elements that artists were not used to. 'I know artists who have been crying all day because they can't bear to open their social media and be insulted on every video and photo they post. And to me, this reaction boils down to hate – people just want something to hate,' she said.
The Guardian
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Hyper-realistic baby dolls spark moral panic and legislation in Brazil
Even as a former president stands trial for attempting a coup and the current leader grapples with the worst popularity crisis of his three terms, many Brazilians have spent recent weeks focused on a very different subject. On social media, in soap operas, and in newly proposed laws, it seemed that hyper-realistic baby dolls were everywhere. About 30 bills concerning these figurines, known as 'reborn' dolls, have been introduced across Brazil, including proposals to ban them from receiving public healthcare or to prohibit collectors from using them to claim priority in queues for public services. Videos of collectors bathing their dolls, tucking them into bed or pushing them in prams spread widely across social media – often accompanied by critical commentary or ridicule, such as a satirical rap song encouraging people to kick the dolls in the street. The controversy reached a disturbing peak on 6 June, when a man slapped a four-month-old baby on the head, claiming he had mistaken the infant for one of the dolls. He is out on bail, and the baby is reportedly doing well. 'I can't recall any other issue that, in such a short period, managed to spark so many bills across different levels of government like this,' said Isabela Kalil, a political science and anthropology professor at the FESPSP university. However, a closer look reveals that the laws are banning things that, in practice, are not happening: so far there has been only one confirmed case of someone attempting to take a doll to a public hospital, reportedly involving a woman with a psychiatric disorder. The wave of controversy appears to have been ridden by politicians on the right: according to the news website UOL, all bills presented in May concerning reborn dolls were proposed by rightwing and far-right lawmakers. 'If a topic is trending, these politicians will propose laws about it even if they make no sense,' said Kalil, who also coordinates a research group about the Brazilian far right. She highlights the timing: the country's leading far-right figure, former president Jair Bolsonaro, is now on trial for an attempted coup and, after a prior ruling by the electoral court, is already barred from standing in next year's elections. 'So there is also an element of grabbing attention and pushing an agenda, especially when the right wing camp is in crisis over Bolsonaro's trial and no one knows who will emerge as their new leader,' she said. Kalil notes that, although the right is politically benefiting from the controversy, criticism and mockery on social media have come from all sides, including the left. Ultimately, the victims are the women who make up the majority of collectors, artisans and content creators on the subject. 'I'm receiving daily threats through social media,' said artist and collector Larissa Vedolin, 25, who uses the artistic name Emily Reborn online. 'I get messages from anonymous accounts saying things like: 'I can't wait to get a gun and find you on the street',' she added. The 'reborn community' has been trying to understand why such an intense backlash has emerged against a type of collecting that has existed in Brazil since at least the early 2000s. There is a degree of consensus that the recent wave began with a TikTok video posted by a collector who said she had been called 'crazy' for taking one of her dolls to the shopping centre. Shortly after, another video went viral showing a doll being 'treated' at a hospital. The collector later explained it was a role play, but that did not stop widespread reposts portraying it as real. Artist and collector Bianca Miranda, 27, says that in the 14 years she has been immersed in the reborn world, she has never encountered anyone who treats the dolls as actual children. 'I have always known they were dolls and have always treated them as such, and today I understand the amount of love and work involved in making one.' Completing one, which costs anywhere from £200 to £2,500, can take weeks depending on its complexity – for instance, whether the hair is painted or implanted strand by strand. 'The first reaction of the average internet user these days is to find something to shout at,' said YouTuber Chico Barney, who filmed a collectors' gathering in São Paulo for his documentary Reborn Babies Don't Cry. 'We went there with open minds to see what happens at a reborn doll event … When we arrived, I was surprised by how un-eccentric it all was. It was just a bunch of people exchanging ideas about something they enjoy,' he said. For Kalil, an anthropologist, the controversy also reveals an element of pathologising women, as if owning or playing with hyper-realistic dolls were a sign of mental illness. 'Adult men can collect action figures or play video games without raising eyebrows. But adult women are not allowed the luxury of entertainment,' she said. The artist Vedolin argues that the dolls 'are not toys, but works of art'. However, practising it has taken on bitter elements that artists were not used. 'I know artists who have been crying all day because they can't bear to open their social media and be insulted on every video and photo they post. And to me, this reaction boils down to hate – people just want something to hate,' she said.
Khaleej Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Watch: UAE sees growing trend in lifelike baby dolls known as ‘reborns'
They look, feel, and weigh almost exactly like real babies, but they are not. Known as "reborn dolls," these hyper-realistic baby dolls are gaining popularity in the UAE, with more residents purchasing them as collectors' items, therapeutic tools, or simply for the novelty of their lifelike design. Reborn dolls offer comfort, an escape from reality, or just plain fun for people of all ages. One local seller behind the Instagram account shared insights into the rising demand. She explained that prices for these dolls range between Dh300 and Dh500, a significant drop from when they first entered the market. 'I started importing reborn dolls from Spain and noticed huge interest when I displayed them on Instagram,' she said. 'The demand was so high that I began offering them regularly. Later, lower-quality versions became available from Chinese markets at more affordable prices.' Her customer base is diverse, spanning children, mothers, grandmothers, and even young men who sometimes buy the dolls as gifts for their fiancées. Each doll arrives with a range of accessories, including extra clothes, hairbands, bottles, diapers, a bag, a stroller, and even a car seat. 'We began this business in 2014 when the dolls were much more expensive, starting from Dh2,000 and imported mainly from Spain and the United States,' she added. The trend is not limited to buying and collecting. On social media platforms, some enthusiasts treat reborn dolls as a hobby, even taking them out in public places. One Instagram user posted near the Burj Khalifa, saying: 'I already have four reborns and now we are in Dubai with the newest, his name is Chase.' 'Started to freak me out' For some, the realism of the dolls can be overwhelming. Sara, a 27-year-old in Dubai, said she initially bought a reborn doll out of curiosity but ended up giving it away. 'It looked so real that it started to freak me out, especially at night,' she said. 'There were times I'd walk into the room and feel like there was an actual baby just lying there. I couldn't handle it.' Others see them as an educational tool. Layla, a mother in Sharjah, recently purchased a reborn doll for her nine-year-old daughter. 'She's been asking for a baby sister for years,' Layla said. 'This was the closest I could offer, and honestly, it's helping. She changes the diaper, feeds it, puts it to sleep. It's teaching her a sense of responsibility and care.' Despite the mixed reactions, both women agree on one thing: the detail is uncanny. From the weight of the doll to the tiny eyelashes and hand-painted skin tones, reborns blur the line between plaything and lifelike art. Globally, reborn dolls have sparked fascination and controversy, particularly in countries like Brazil. There, the hyper-realistic dolls are used for various purposes, including grief therapy for those coping with loss and as practice tools for new parents. The dolls have become a popular subject on social media, drawing attention from both fans and critics. In Brazil, the trend has even led to political debate, with some lawmakers proposing restrictions on the dolls while others defend collectors' rights to engage with them freely. Reports have emerged of some owners taking their reborn dolls to hospitals, demanding real infant care, a situation that has raised eyebrows and fueled further discussion.
South China Morning Post
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Reborn doll craze for lifelike babies in Brazil stirs emotions, sparks debate in Congress
Gabi Matos looks the quintessential doting mum as she changes Ravi's nappy, cooing reassuringly as he stares up at her. Advertisement But this Brazilian 'newborn' does not seem to mind having his nappy changed. In fact, he has no real emotions whatsoever. Ravi is a hyperrealistic doll with an eerie resemblance to an actual infant. Some of the so-called 'reborn' dolls cry, suck dummies, pee, and have nails, eyelashes and veins. But what really sets them apart from traditional dolls with waxy, smooth complexion is their puckered features and blotchy skin. Advertisement Blink and you could mistake the bundle in the stroller in Rio de Janeiro for the real thing.
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Brazil's lifelike doll craze goes from shopping malls to state legislatures
SAO PAULO (AP) — Videos featuring emotional moments with hyper-realistic baby dolls have sparked both online fascination and political debate in Brazil, with lawmakers even bringing the lifelike dolls into legislatures. Influencers have staged situations such as birth simulations and strolls in shopping malls with the hand-crafted baby figures, known as 'reborn' dolls, creating videos that have gone viral. In Rio de Janeiro, the city council has passed a bill honoring those who make the lifelike dolls, pending Mayor Eduardo Paes' signature. Meanwhile, legislators elsewhere across the country have debated fines for those seeking medical help for such dolls, following a video allegedly showing a woman taking one to a hospital. Lawmakers have brought the dolls into legislative chambers. On Tuesday, Joao Luiz, a state lawmaker from Amazonas, appeared with a doll at the State House to announce plans to ban reborn dolls from receiving care in the state's public health system. However, local media reported that health authorities had never recorded any such cases. Last week, congresswoman Talíria Petrone criticized the attention her colleagues were giving to the issue. 'Can we focus on what really matters? If someone wants to have a doll, let them. I have two real children and they're more than enough work,' she said. Dozens of 'reborn mothers' gathered at Villa Lobos Park, in Sao Paulo, on Saturday for a 10th annual meet-up. Participants say criticism should be aimed at attention-seeking influencers, not the broader community. The hyper-realistic baby dolls are often used for grief therapy or parenting practice. Berenice Maria, a nursing assistant and longtime collector who owns eight dolls, says they offer emotional comfort. 'I love reborns, despite the hate we see out there,' she said. 'I want the right to go out with them … go to the mall, go to the park.' Daniela Baccan, co-owner of a reborn doll shop in Campinas, Sao Paulo, said dolls sell from 700 reais ($124) to nearly 10,000 reais (nearly $1,800). With the rising controversy, safety concerns are increasing. 'We're locking up the store more, adding cameras,' Baccan said. 'But at the same time, online demand has increased, and the store is seeing a much higher flow of people.' ___
