Hyper-realistic baby dolls spark moral panic and legislation in Brazil [View all]

Even as a former president stands trial for attempting a coup and the current leader grapples with the worst popularity crisis of his three terms, many Brazilians have spent recent weeks focused on a very different subject.

On social media, in soap operas, and in newly proposed laws, it seemed that hyper-realistic baby dolls were everywhere.

About 30 bills concerning these figurines, known as “reborn” dolls, have been introduced across Brazil, including proposals to ban them from receiving public healthcare or to prohibit collectors from using them to claim priority in queues for public services.

Videos of collectors bathing their dolls, tucking them into bed or pushing them in prams spread widely across social media – often accompanied by critical commentary or ridicule, such as a satirical rap song encouraging people to kick the dolls in the street.

The controversy reached a disturbing peak on 6 June, when a man slapped a four-month-old baby on the head, claiming he had mistaken the infant for one of the dolls. He is out on bail, and the baby is reportedly doing well.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/22/hyper-realistic-dolls-brazil

“Adult men can collect action figures or play video games without raising eyebrows. But adult women are not allowed the luxury of entertainment." That about sums it up.