Factual

Barbie’s Dirty Secrets is a new investigative documentary produced by ZANDLAND for Channel 4, UK, represented by All3Media International. It airs on October 11, 2024, and is available for international licensing. The documentary, presented by journalist Isobel Yeung, exposes the darker side of Mattel, the company behind the iconic Barbie brand, and its labor practices.

The film includes undercover footage from a Mattel-owned factory in Dongguan, China, revealing troubling conditions such as bullying, unsafe environments, excessive overtime, and low pay. Workers are seen struggling to meet extreme production quotas while being paid less than £17 for an 11-hour shift. The documentary highlights a stark contrast between Mattel’s corporate image of female empowerment and its exploitative practices in its factories.

Mattel has been criticized for failing to uphold its promise of providing a "safe and healthy workplace," despite its claims of treating workers with dignity and respect. The documentary also features commentary from experts, including Thulsi Narayanasamy from the Worker Rights Consortium, who verifies the footage's revelations about harsh labor conditions.