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Dublin: 8 °C Tuesday 19 March, 2024
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The guy who played Barney has shared his frankly hellish experience of wearing the costume

He couldn’t see anything when Barney’s mouth was closed. ARGH.

Barneythedinosaur_1_ Digitaldoorway Digitaldoorway

BARNEY THE Dinosaur was a constant presence in the childhoods of 90s kids, with his catchy songs and his cute sidekicks and army of precocious children.

But who is Barney, really? What do we really know about him? Well, he’s this guy.

eWmGsxXw_400x400 Twitter / David Joyner Twitter / David Joyner / David Joyner

David Joyner was the OG Barney, operating the suit from 1991 until 2001 (a different actor did the voice) and recently, he spoke to Business Insider about his time as the purple dinosaur.

The interview will be very eye-opening to those of us who grew up with Barney, whether you loved him or hated him – here’s what we learned.

The costume sounds absolutely hellish

barney Wikia Wikia

Hot, heavy, and kiiiiiinda claustrophobic.

Now Barney is about 70 pounds, and it can get over 120 degrees inside. So inside you’re sweating profusely.

The head does not come off

barney2 YouTube YouTube

I can only a certain amount because of the peripheral of Barney’s mouth, and when Barney’s mouth is closed, I can’t see anything.

He said he had to put a fan at Barney’s mouth to cool down in between takes.

AND Barney’s feet are so big Joyner had to have runners glued inside

barney feet Twitter / Business Insider Twitter / Business Insider / Business Insider

Lordy.

Basically, it’s a real feat of endurance

barney4 YouTube YouTube

Joyner told the story of another woman who played Barney at live shows, and could not hack it:

Apparently she was bombarded by kids, couldn’t take her break, just really needed to get out of the costume, and couldn’t do it. So after that first event, they never heard from her again.

Despite all this, Joyner says being in the costume was ‘pretty cool’

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He’s proud to have spread the “I Love You, You Love Me” message to the world.

I love you, you love me, we’re a happy family. We’re gathered together and a beautiful, harmonious thing is happening. So it’s a beautiful thing to know how that song has impacted this next generation.

Watch the full interview here, and feel slightly more grateful for Barney than you did before. A dinosaur sensation, indeed.

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