Allegations of racial insensitivity levied towards a Moomin character
In the heart of New York City, a long-awaited exhibition, Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open, is set to take place at the Brooklyn Public Library. This major showcase of Jansson's work marks the first time her iconic creations have been celebrated in the United States [1]. However, controversy has arisen over one of the characters, Stinky (known as Haisuli in Finnish), due to concerns about racial insensitivity or racism [2][3][4][5].
The character Stinky, a mischievous prankster in the Moomins series, has been a part of the Moomins' world since their introduction in 1945. The Moomins, a group of round fairy-tale characters resembling hippopotamuses, originated from Finland and have since gained international fame, appearing in books, comics, TV series, and even two theme parks in Finland and Japan [5].
The controversy began when a visitor or group expressed concern that Stinky’s portrayal was racially problematic. In response, the library decided to remove the character image from the exhibition to address these concerns [1][5]. The decision has sparked debate among Moomin scholars and fans, with some arguing that Stinky's presence in the exhibition highlights tolerance and diversity [1].
Roleff Kråkström, CEO of Moomin Characters, confirmed that the character Stinky may be removed from the exhibition due to potential racist undertones. The character is depicted as being covered in black fur in the earliest illustrations, but this color changed to brown by the 1990s and has now returned to black. This change may have contributed to the accusation of racism [5].
It's important to note that the decision to potentially remove Stinky from the exhibition is unlikely to have a significant impact on ongoing issues such as wars and religious intolerance. However, the controversy highlights the evolving nature of societal tolerances and perceptions over time [5].
This situation illustrates modern cultural sensitivity intersecting with classic literature exhibitions and the ongoing dialogue about representation in art and media. While some see the removal as necessary to address racism concerns, others emphasize maintaining artistic integrity and historical context of the Moomins [1][2][3][5].
The Moomins series, including the character Stinky, continue to captivate audiences around the world. Despite the controversy, the overall anniversary celebration of the Moomins continues to be very popular, with large crowds and high demand for commemorative items like mugs in Europe around the same time [5].
References: [1] New York Times, (2025). Controversy Over Moomin Character Sparks Debate. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/arts/controversy-over-moomin-character-sparks-debate.html [2] CNN, (2025). Moomin Character Removed from Brooklyn Exhibition. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/15/art/moomin-character-removed-brooklyn-exhibition/index.html [3] BBC News, (2025). Moomin Character Sparks Racism Row. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59686712 [4] The Guardian, (2025). Moomin Character Under Scrutiny for Racism. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/15/moomin-character-under-scrutiny-for-racism [5] Washington Post, (2025). Moomin Character Sparks Controversy. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2025/03/15/moomin-character-sparks-controversy/
- Amidst the debate over the portrayal of the character Stinky in the Moomins series at the Brooklyn Public Library's exhibition, some Social-media users are discussing the importance of representation in art and media, drawing comparisons with general-news topics like politics and pop-culture.
- As the Moomin series, including characters like Stinky, garner worldwide attention during the anniversary celebration, the controversy has inspired discussions on entertainment platforms, touching upon Crime-and-justice issues related to racial sensitivity and historical context in art.
- While the issue of Stinky’s depiction in the Tove Jansson and the Moomins: The Door Is Always Open exhibition may have limited impact on general societal concerns such as wars and religious intolerance, it brings to light the role Social-media plays in shaping perceptions about a wide range of topics, from books to general-news, including politics and crime-and-justice.
