New 'Barney' Docuseries Explores Rumors, Violent Backlash Against Beloved Kids' Show

"Barney & Friends" promoted love and inclusion but a new documentary series about the show highlights the hatred it faced from people who were not eager to accept its positive message.

The two-part Peacock docuseries "I Love You, You Hate Me" explores "the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur's furious backlash — and what it says about the human need to hate," according to the streaming service.

The kids' show, starring the purple dinosaur Barney, became popular in the early 90's and 2000s. The dinosaur was a "friend" to the kids in the neighborhood, often encouraging them to try new things while praising them for their efforts. The show, created by Shery Leach, regularly featured song and dance sequences by Barney and his dinosaur friends – Baby Bop, Riff and BJ – and the young cast members, which also included Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. Barney is known mostly for his song, "I Love You."

"I love you, you love me/We're a happy family/With a great big hug/And a kiss from me to you/Won't you say you love me too," the song goes.

In a trailer of the documentary series, released Wednesday, Bob West, a Barney performer, can be heard saying, "Barney strands for inclusion, acceptance," while an unnamed interviewer said, "You should love everyone, we all have Sheryl Leach to thank for that."

"What color is happier than purple? No color," engineer and television presenter Bill Nye said in the short trailer.

Despite how lovable the "Barney" characters were, some people trashed the show. gave a summary of the issues encountered by "Barney."

"As her beloved character was heading into the stratosphere, people couldn't accept that this was just a show. And so, let the bashing begin," said weather presenter and television personality Al Roker.

The documentary includes footage of people violently destroying "Barney" merchandise and spreading rumors that Barney hid drugs in his tail. West and his family even received death threats for being a part of the show.

"They were violent and explicit, death and dismemberment of my family," West said in the trailer. "They were gonna come and find me, and they were going to kill me."

"I Love You, You Hate Me" will premiere on Peacock on Oct. 12.