Why Is Burger King's Barbie Burger So Controversial?

With the release of the much-anticipated Barbie film fast approaching, the team at Delish has noticed a huge uptick in Barbie-themed recipes and product releases.

While Barbie cocktails or desserts are to be expected (who can resist a bright pink cocktail or pud?), one thing we didn't expect was a Barbie burger. Not least from one of the world's most beloved and famous burger brands, Burger King.

Burger King fans in Brazil are now able to get their hands on the Pink Burger, a limited-edition cheeseburger with crispy bacon and a smoky, bright pink sauce encased in a brioche bun.

The burger arrives alongside a dish called "Ken's Potatoes" (which appear to be just normal fries) and a Barbie Doughnut Milkshake.

The menu items inspired by the new film by Greta Gerwig have caused something of a stir on social media, with some people calling the burger "sickening" (whether this means it's disgusting or great is unconfirmed) and that they thought the sauce was made from "pepto bismol."

There is something a little... unnatural about the hue of the sauce, we must say.

However, some Barbie fans were loving the Brazilian menu, commenting on the TikTok posted by the brand, "we need this in the US," and "*cries in American*."

If you're thinking, "that sauce looks a little familiar," you'd be on the money. Pink Sauce was a product created by TikToker Veronica Shaw that went viral on the platform in the summer of 2022, causing controversy for its unnatural colour, as well as several food safety issues.

While the sauce used in the Burger King Brazil burger is 100% not this sauce, the similarities haven't gone unnoticed by some social media users.

Will this burger be coming to the UK anytime soon? We doubt it. However, if you do want to celebrate the launch of the film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, we've got a stellar selection of pink cocktails to choose from to ring in Barbiecore season.