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How I Met Your Motheris a sitcom that many adore for its heartfelt moments and razor-sharp humor. One of the most beloved characters and the show’s main comedic relief is Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris.
His charm and quick wit made him a fan favorite but at times his actions seemed out of line. Here’s one such moment from the series that might trigger some people, and make them uncomfortable, or change their perspective of the character.
Barney Stinson’s joke onHow I Met Your Motherthat went too far
Neil Patrick Harris’Barney Stinson was a character that thrived on sleazy one-liners, controversial takes, and problematic schemes, which at times, pushed the boundaries of what we consider acceptable behavior. But most of them were presented in a way that seemed exaggerated or harmless.
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However, an episode in season 3, titledThe Bracket, might make you reconsider the whole show due to a low remark. In the episode, Barney is trying to figure out which of his past actions were sabotaging his current romantic endeavors. So, during a montage of confessions, he casually admits:
At one point, I’m pretty sure I sold a woman. I didn’t speak the language, but I shook a guy’s hand, he gave me the keys to a Mercedes, and I left her there
This line, which is meant as a throwaway joke, is deeply troubling because it exaggerates the concept of human trafficking. To many, it feels extremely inappropriate even as comedic fodder and draws attention to the limits of dark humor in mainstream sitcoms.
How I Met Your Mother’sfans’ backlash for Barney Stinson
Years later, the joke resurfaced on social media and led to a heated debate among fans. Some called out the double standards of how viewers lightly react to the disturbing comments ofBarney Stinson, versus the actions of characters like Lily and Robin.
On the other hand, there are folks who put forth the argument thatBarney’s character was never meant to be an inspiration. His antics are meant to provoke laughter, and not to be admired. Now, even though this distinction is somewhat correct, it does not negate the fact that the line normalizes extreme behavior for laughs and gags.
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It’s true that you cannot draw a boundary for someone else’s dark humor, and it has long been a staple in sitcoms. But we can expect it to be framed carefully and have some nuance. You can exaggerate a character’s flaw to make them funny, but not under the guise of using something as serious as human trafficking without follow-up or accountability.
You can watchHow I Met Your Motheron Hulu.
Sonika Kamble
Articles Published :1196
Sonika Kamble is an entertainment writer at Fandomwire, covering everything from timeless classics to newly released movies. With over 1000+ articles published, she delves into breakdowns, think pieces, speculations, and more.She enjoys connecting the dots and covering newfound angles about characters, scenes, and themes from movies directed by Scorsese, Fincher, Tarantino, Linklater, and other exceptional filmmakers.
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Barney StinsonHow I Met Your MotherNeil Patrick Harris
