In 1998 at a post office in Texas, a drug-sniffing dog detected two pounds of cocaine hidden inside a talking Barney doll which was being shipped to Waltham, Minnesota.

While most of such playthings have doubtless lived out their guiltless existences being hugged and squeezed by sundry tots, a few stuffed Barneys have been used as drug caches: Like so many other successful television shows, Barney & Friends has spawned various lines of show-related merchandise, including various Barney toys such as plush dolls in the likeness of the purple dinosaur himself. In the case of the rumors about Barney, the source for the rumor about drugs having been found in his tail can likely be laid at the feet of some of his small fans who misunderstood the meaning of various news articles they might have heard about. And вЂњ SteveвЂќ of TVвЂ™s BlueвЂ™s Clues was said to have died of a heroin overdose, a clear indication that, contrary to his squeaky-clean on-camera image, heвЂ™d been deeply into illegal drugs.

The radio host Uncle Don was believed to have uttered вЂњThere that ought to hold the little bastardsвЂќ into a live mike at the conclusion of one of his shows when he thought the station was no longer broadcasting. Rogers was a convicted child molester or had served in the armed forces as a sniper and thus had dispatched many to their graves. Back fence gossip asserted the genial Mr. The rumorsвЂ™ presentation of Barney as a nefarious character who deals drugs or secretly hates children runs contrary to his steadfast image of wholesomeness and trustworthiness.Д«aseless rumors of similar denigrating nature have plagued other childrenвЂ™s hosts cherished for their friendliness and sincerity. ItвЂ™s not the funny costume or the songs that make the show a success itвЂ™s the friendliness and constant optimism of the showвЂ™s purple host. Two common rumors about Barney (police uncovered a cache of illegal drugs secreted in the rotund dinosaurвЂ™s tail, or the endlessly loving and patient childrenвЂ™s host roundly cussed out a hapless tyke) strike at the heart of BarneyвЂ™s appeal to the smaller set. BarneyвЂ™s is a loveable persona, and the children he interacts with as part of the show happily sing and dance along with him, looking upon him as a much-admired friend. The youths were fined $200 each.Barney, the purple dinosaur from televisionвЂ™s Barney & Friends, has been on the air since 1992, hosting a show which uses song and dance to teach preschool tots in an environment of warmth and caring. Store officials called that dinosaur a Barney lookalike.

Last September, four youths attacked a person in a purple dinosaur costume at a store opening in Galveston, Texas. There is no telephone listing for McMahan or Murdoch in the Worcester area. Police said his roommate, David Murdoch, was in the car and bet McMahan he didnвЂ™t have the nerve to bash Barney. McRoy was treated at the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts-Memorial and released, but said she returned Saturday after suffering severe headaches and vomiting.Дoctors told her she had a neck injury that would take up to 6 weeks to heal, she said.Дerrick McMahan, a Worcester State College student, was charged with assault and battery. вЂіOne little boy said, вЂ™IвЂ™m going home to get my gun, Barney, and IвЂ™m going to shoot him.вЂґ

McRoy told the Telegram & Gazette that her attacker tackled her Friday and hit her in the face after her mask fell off. вЂіI said, вЂ™Why are you doing this to me?вЂґ said Deborah McRoy, who was dressed as Barney to celebrate the opening of a drug store. (AP) _ Egged on by a $10 bet, a college student jumped from a car, shouted obscenities and assaulted a woman dressed as Barney the dinosaur, police said.

Person in barney costume