Original 'Barney & Friends' was discontinued. Know why?

Mattel has revealed their plans to reboot the program starring the purple dinosaur. New toys, apparel, and content are all released with it. The news coincided with the release of Barney's new style. However, considering the changes to Barney's look, internet users don't seem overly enthusiastic about the relaunch. A section of netizens even commented on the dinosaur's appearance as having had his "buccal fat removed" on social media. For those who are not aware, buccal fat reduction is a surgical procedure that involves removing fat from the face to accentuate the bone structure and provide the illusion of a thinner face.
Despite being a famous '90s cartoon, Barney & Friends was finally discontinued after a raft of lawsuits filed by the program's makers as a consequence of violent video using the purple dinosaur started to surface. This graphic content over time gained more popularity than the actual show.
What caused Barney & Friends to be canceled?

At first, the show was immediately broadcast to the general public after being recorded as made-for-video productions. But gradually, real kids started to be featured in the program, and the purple dinosaur taught them things like friendship, family, and nature.

The first blow to the purple dinosaur was delivered in 1997, the same year that San Diego Chicken started airing comic segments that included Barney getting severely battered. The show's creators did not like this since they thought it did not support the cartoon's overarching theme.

According to Distractify, further incidents of violence against the dinosaur soon started to appear. A website called Dustyfeet, which sprang to fame for advocating the concept that the purple dinosaur must be eliminated by whatever means necessary, was a notable example.

According to FreshersLive, the show's cancellation was caused in part by cost-cutting measures that were put in place after 30 episodes.

FAQs:

1. When did Barney and Friends end?
   November 2, 2010.
2. What gender is Barney?
   Male.