Esther Addley, in today's Guardian Diary:

So it's 18 days and counting to the big one. Yes, here at the Diary, it's all about Barbie's 50th anniversary on 9 March, a timely opportunity to celebrate five whole joyful decades of dead eyes and tippy-toed anorexia. And to mark the happy day, an email arrives from The Spa PR Company:
"Barbie, who (whisper it) must've had work done because she's looking a little plastic, reveals her secrets to staying young..."
Appended is an image of the doll, with arrows to her nose, teeth, lips and breasts, each labelled with the name of a cosmetic surgery clinic that may have lent a hand. And annotating her groin - good golly, miss dolly! - the charming text: "laser vaginal rejuvenation", with the name of a clinic offering just such a service.
We call Spa PR.
"We just thought we would use Barbie's birthday as a fun way to bring attention to LVR," says a representative.
We call Mattel UK.
"Wow," says a spokeswoman.
And whaddya know, some moments later an email arrives from Spa PR:
"We would like to retract the press release issued in error from our office this morning regarding the 50th birthday of Barbie and request that all information contained in the release be disregarded. This was sent without authority or approval from parties concerned and we apologise immediately to Mattel and all those mentioned for any offence this may have caused."

Permit us to say: we at the Diary will always defend Barbie's right - or indeed that of any other plastic toy - to have an unrejuvenated wotsit. You're welcome, madam.


Opinions, please.

Phil