Barbie & Ken Broke Up 20 Years Ago. The Drama Explained
There was a time when it seemed it was Ken’s destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility with Barbie by his side. Back in 2004, just days before Valentine’s Day, Mattel shared the sad news that iconic couple Barbie and Ken had broken up. The most perfect plastic pair had been together for 43 years when the surprising split was announced. Mattel said that it was just time for the two dolls to spend some time apart, with some hints pointing to Ken’s avoidance of the marriage subject. Other rumors said that Barbie had to focus on her ever-growing cycle of careers.
Around the same time, Mattel released the new Cali Girl Barbie, and her group of pals including the hunky Blaine, an Australian boogie boarder. Soon, Barbie and Blaine became a couple and Ken was on social media trying to win his beloved back.
Chesnot/Getty Images
A few years later, Mattel gave Ken a complete makeover and said that he had changed. It seems that the time apart worked well for the dolls, as they got back together in 2011 and Mattel released a set of wedding-themed Ken and Barbie.
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
Some say that the breakup was also in hopes of revitalizing the doll’s images and competing with Bratz dolls, who started becoming popular in the early 2000s. Obviously, it was a marketing ploy to gain interest in the dolls and in many ways, it worked. So many years later, Barbie is still at the forefront of people’s minds, as is evident with the recent success of the Barbie film, which explores the complicated relationship between Barbie and Ken.
Getty Images
Ironically enough, if you look into the history of Barbie and Ken, they were actually named after siblings. Creator Ruth Handler named the dolls after her children, Barbara and Ken. Ken was released two years after Barbie came out in 1959 when consumers requested a boyfriend for the doll. Handler was always using inspiration from her family for the dolls, as the doll Allan is named after her son-in-law. Tell us, what do you think about the Barbie and Ken breakup and reunion?
Remind 
Top Dollar Collectibles
August 2023
Find the most valuable — and fun — keepsakes in the worlds of sports, toys and superheroes
Buy This Issue