In a statement on the Barbie Facebook page, Mattel apologized for the book, which they said was written in 2010, and said they have "reworked" their Barbie books since then.
They wrote:
The Barbie I Can Be A Computer Engineer book was published in 2010. Since that time we have reworked our Barbie books. The portrayal of Barbie in this specific story doesn't reflect the Brand's vision for what Barbie stands for. We believe girls should be empowered to understand that anything is possible and believe they live in a world without limits. We apologize that this book didn't reflect that belief. All Barbie titles moving forward will be written to inspire girl's imaginations and portray an empowered Barbie character.
We've seen Astronaut Barbie, Entrepreneur Barbie, and finally, in a book released last year, Barbie was given the cool, modern, gender boundary-pushing job of computer engineer.
Wait, never mind — as first pointed out by author Pamela Ribon on her blog, this is a sexist garbage book filled with sexist garbage dialogue.
For example, Barbie says she's creating a game (one filled with cute puppies, of course), but then backtracks and says she's just "creating design ideas, lol." She really needs a couple of dudes to help her if she's going to build a "real game."
Somehow, despite being a *great* flash drive accessorizer, poor helpless Barbie manages to get a virus on her computer, and Skipper loses her homework assignment. CRISIS.
Whatever are two beautiful young women completely lacking agency to do?
Uh, have a pillow fight, DUH.
"OMG, I love conforming to regressive gender stereotypes!"
OK, pillow fight interlude over. And luckily, Steven and Brian have showed up to mansplain to Computer Engineer Barbie how computers work.
Choice quote: "It will go faster if Brian and I help," offers Steven.
"Fuck that! I can do it myself," Barbie shouts back, flipping her fabulous hair and storming off.
JK, she's a useless tree stump and needs them to save her.
MEN TO THE RESCUE. Problem solved, no thanks to Barbie.
High five to sexism!
The day is saved, and like a good misandrist, Barbie takes all the credit for fixing her sister's computer. She also seems to believe her own lie and declares, "I guess I can be a computer engineer!"
Commenters on Amazon have, essentially, torn the book to shreds.
Over Barbie's 55-year history Mattel has faced multiple controversies, from a 1975 Skipper doll that went through puberty, a 1992 Barbie that declared "Math is hard!," and a pregnant version of Barbie's friend Midge in 2002.
Random House did not respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News.
The internet has responded to the book in a hilarious fashion, rewriting the dialogue to make the text more pro-woman and make Barbie a more self-sufficient engineer.