Barbie’s founder jokes in the ‘Barbie’ movie about getting in trouble with the IRS. Here’s what actually happened.

• The fictional Ruth Handler jokes in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” about getting in trouble with the IRS.
• The real-life Handler was indicted for conspiracy and making false financial statements to the SEC.
• Handler, who invented the plastic doll, said the experience left her “desperate to hide from the public.”

Barbie’s founder jokes in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie about getting in trouble with the IRS, but the experience left the real-life Ruth Handler wanting to “die of shame.”

“I am Mattel,” Handler, played by Rhea Perlman says in the movie. “At least, until the IRS got to me.”