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Controversy behind the song "Peaches" in the Super Mario Bros. movie

Super Mario Bros. movie is generating controversy due to the portrayal of the character of Bowser, who exhibits an obsession with marrying Princess Peach and does not accept "no" as an answer

April 18, 2023 7:18pm

Updated: April 18, 2023 10:43pm

The Super Mario Bros. movie continues to break box office records and brings nostalgia to gaming fans. Nintendo fans are excited about the collaboration between the Japanese company and Illumination Studios, a subsidiary of Universal Pictures. 

One significant storyline from the games is the relationship between Bowser (voiced by Jack Black) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), where Bowser's villainous motivation is to kidnap Peach and force her into marriage, just like in the Mario games.

However, the song "Peaches," performed by Jack Black and in Spanish by Héctor Estrada, has generated controversy amid rumors of a possible Oscar nomination.

Despite the movie's departure from Peach's traditional role as a damsel in distress, there are opinions accusing the film of promoting sexist behavior through the character of Bowser.

Internet users have expressed dislike for Bowser's obsession with marrying Princess Peach and not accepting "no" for an answer, resorting to extreme behaviors to achieve his goal. The lyrics of this "love letter" from Bowser to Peach have been used to create memes all over the internet, but social media has begun to point out that the lyrics and the way they are interpreted by the villain could normalize harassment towards women.

Despite Bowser being the villain and not meant to be seen as a role model, some people are upset with those who sympathize with the character portrayed by Jack Black. There have even been calls for the cancellation of Bowser, similar to what happened with the character of Pepe Le Pew from "Looney Tunes" in the past.

In response to this wave of accusations on Facebook and Twitter, some fans argue that it's all an exaggeration and that the story is aimed at a child audience. They also justify Bowser's actions because he is the antagonist of the movie.

Others argue that there are songs that talk about bullying, but no one criticizes them, specifically those from the reggaeton genre. Despite the controversies, the Super Mario Bros. movie continues to be a box office success.