Was ‘Teletubbies’ Really for Kids? 7 Most Unhinged Theories Explained

Probably the most random and unhinged kids show on modern TV, Teletubbies has always been a pretty surreal experience that ignited several controversies and even paved the way for conspiracy theories.

All those allegations were either debunked or never confirmed by Teletubbies’ creators, though there’s still a reason to believe that the children show might not have always been about children anyway.

In case you miss watching Teletubbies on a daily basis before going to school and are eager to rewatch the show, here are some adult-coded details that you might also want to pay attention to this time.

Tinky Winky and His Bag

Probably the most scandalous detail in the entire show, Tinky Winky’s bag got lots of attention just because it looks like a female handbag worn by a male character.

Since then, many assumed that the show was trying to promote LGBTQ+ agenda and impose it on young children.

Teletubbies’ creators quickly denied the allegations, saying that the series in fact never tried to attribute gender-defined accessories to their characters. Such a choice, in its turn, was driven by Teletubbies’ whimsical appeal to toddlers.

Teletubbies’ Antennas

Every Teletubby on the show has a unique antenna placed on their head, shaped as a circle, straight line, triangle or squiggle.

This was also long seen as some kind of specific message, with many fans speculating whether those antennas were meant as occult, technological or even sexual symbols.

The matter has never been addressed by Teletubbies’ creators and is now believed to be a proof of some fans’ overthinking.

The Surreal Setting

The show isn’t just about weird characters — it’s also about the pretty weird surrounding they live in.

It’s not clear where exactly Teletubbies live, but to some it seemed like some kind of psychedelic dream with a laughing sky and smiling sun.

The characters’ strange repetitions and weird dialogues also add up to the list of suspicious hints that many viewers considered to be drug-related.

Teletubbies and Authoritarian Regime

In the show, the four leading characters live in a high-tech surveillance dome equipped with the newest technologies that make their lives easier.

However, the periscope that gives Teletubbies instructions on a daily basis was seen as a symbol of authoritarian regime, which clearly wasn’t a thing to consider for toddlers.

Weird Repetitions Had a Different Meaning

The TV series was initially meant to become some sort of educational content for young viewers, which is why things weren’t just too complicated in there; apart from that, they could be even simpler than everyone expected.

Teletubbies has featured many repetitions of specific events and the characters’ encouragement for audiences to do something again and again, though some adult viewers were reassured that the show was trying to brainwash its young viewers.

The matter, however, was nothing else but a use of the well-known early education technique.

Teletubbies’ TVs

It’s pretty clear that Teletubbies are called so because there’s a TV in their stomach; this was actually never explained, and some viewers thought it might have been a symbol of media consumption and consumerism.

While the theory actually makes some sense, this will still likely be irrelevant in the case of Teletubbies created specifically for preverbal children.

“Noo-Noo” the Vacuum

Teletubbies’ friendly housemate was also seen as some kind of ominous adult-coded hidden message due to its design and dust-sucking behaviour.

However, Noo-Noo has never had a different goal rather than just being one more technological advantage of Teletubbies’ innovative house and, apart from that, also their friend.