Featured Image Credit: Nickelodeon
Topics: Parenting, Social Media, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle
Nickelodeon has been forced to delete a Dora the Explorer post explaining what 'Sigma' is following some major backlash from people online.
The post in question, which was shared last week (7 May) to an official Dora the Explorer social media account, saw a 3D animated version of the character explain to viewers that 'sigma' is 'a word for someone who’s confident, independent, and does things their own way'.
"Think of it as someone who’s a leader and a trendsetter. Let’s say your friend is doing their own thing, focusing on their goals, and not worrying about what others think. You can say, 'You’re such a SIGMA!'" the character said.
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After catching light of the clip, many rushed in to share their outrage over the clip given what they believed was Dora teaching the young minds of today 'brainrot' slang, as certain terminology can often end up carrying meanings that go far beyond their original definition.
In this case, it is used a lot on the internet to signal an 'alpha male' type and such language is often bound up with incel rhetoric or the wider online 'manosphere'.
One Instagram user hit out: "Can we have the old Dora back, this new one is broken."
"The generation of kids are so cooked LMAOOO," chirped a second while a third lamented: "HELP WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT HAS THE WORLD COME TO?!"
A fourth jabbed: "This is so f*cking cringe."
"They really turned it into straight brainrot," declared a fifth while another penned: "How is this real life?!"
And a final critic slammed: "This isn’t age appropriate. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but ain’t this for children under the of 7? And that’s pushing it. Slangs ain’t for kids, y’all gotta behave."
Others, however, were far more relaxed about the whole thing with one supporter writing: "Idk why people were b*tching about the explanation. I watched it and my biggest issue is, her f*cking head isn't right. What the f*ck has Nickelodeon done?"
A second chimed in: "I actually see nothing wrong with this, as far as brainrot slang goes, sigma is like the least offensive and most normal. Language changes over time and it's a pretty harmless term, even if it's roots were in weird places, it's meaning is pretty harmless."
"Don’t see the problem here," echoed a third while a fourth quipped: "I'm sorry this is SO FUNNY!"
Another unleashed: "Omg, I'm tired of backlash, backlash, backlash of sh*t. My god let someone or a company put something and either watch it or don't. But don't watch it and whine and b*tch that it offends you."
And a final Instagram user summarised: "Not inappropriate, just a weird thing for Dora to talk about, kinda random."
What do you make of it?
Tyla has reached out to Nickelodeon for comment.