Winnie the Pooh Faces Ban from Polish Playgrounds Due to His 'Dubious Sexuality'

Beloved children's cartoon character Winnie the Pooh has been branded an unsuitable role model by Polish politicians.

The bear was slated as the namesake for a new park in Tuszyn, Poland, but councillors have blocked the move, calling into question Pooh's "dubious sexuality" and walking around without any underpants.

During a debate, Hanna Jachimska questioned Pooh's unclear gender, accusing the author AA Milne: "When the author turned 60, he cut off [Pooh's] testicles with a rusty razor blade because of his own identity issues."

One councillor even called the bear a "hermaphrodite".

"The problem with that bear is it doesn't have a complete wardrobe," said Councillor Ryszard Cichy during the discussion as reported in the Croatian Times.

Cichy compared Winnie the Pooh to a much-loved Polish bear, Misio Uszatek, who he said was a better choice as representative of the playground because he was fully dressed.

"Looking at both of these bears [Misio Uszatek and Winnie the Pooh] one is completely dressed while the other is only dressed from the top up," Mr Ciszy said during the meeting.

Locals also have a low opinion of the British childhood icon. One man told Polish reporters: "Winnie the Pooh is a bear with low intellect, and unfortunately, this is also evident in those who are concerned with this topic."

He also suggested that the bear was addicted to honey and was "an alcoholic and a liar. He walks with no underwear and has cut off his testicles".

However, Winnie the Pooh is still a popular character with a Warsaw street named after him, Ulica Kubusia Puchatka. There is also a road in Budapest, re-named in the bear's honour, Micimackó utca.

Watch classic clips from Winnie the Pooh cartoons