9 things in 'The Beanie Bubble' that actually happened, and 12 that were made up or embellished

Kirsten AcunaJul 30, 2023, 18:45 IST

Zach Galifianakis and Geraldine Viswanathan as Ty Warner and Maya in "The Beanie Bubble."AppleTV+

"The Beanie Bubble," directed by Kristin Gore and husband Damian Kulash, is streaming on AppleTV+.
The movie tells the story of Ty Warner and the Beanie Baby craze while dramatizing some moments.

Beanie Babies really spilled onto a highway, but it was Teenie Beanies that caused a minor stir.

A truck spills boxes of Beanie Babies onto a road in "The Beanie Bubble."Apple

The movie claims Ty Warner and his father dated the same woman. A representative for Ty Inc. says it's untrue.

Zach Galifianakis and Elizabeth Banks in "The Beanie Bubble."Apple

The film claims that Robbie, a character based on Patricia Roche, was Warner's neighbor and married when they first met and decided to launch Ty Inc. together.

Billy and Robbie at the start of "The Beanie Bubble."Apple

The real Maya, Lina Trivedi, didn't join Ty Inc. when she was 17, but she did have to groom plush toy animals.

Maya, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, in "The Beanie Bubble."Apple

Ty Warner and Sheila (a character based on Faith McGowan) did not meet inside Warner's house.

Sarah Snook and Zach Galifianakis as Sheila and Ty Warner in "The Beanie Bubble."Courtesy of AppleTV+

The film claims a little girl designed a Beanie Baby, was given credit for it, and then had the credit taken away by Warner. A representative for Ty Inc. called the film's depiction a "gross distortion" of actual events.

Ava Harper in "The Beanie Bubble" with Spooky the ghost Beanie Baby.Apple

The film claims a little girl designed a Beanie Baby, was given credit for it, and then had the credit taken away by Warner. A representative for Ty Inc. called the film's depiction a "gross distortion" of actual events.

Trivedi really pitched the idea for the Ty.com website, but she wasn't its sole creator.

A version of Ty.com can be seen in the background.Apple

Ty Inc. didn't originally own the Ty.com domain.

A version of the Ty.com site seen in "The Beanie Bubble."Apple

The movie suggests it was Maya's idea to retire Beanie Babies, creating a supply and demand. That's not exactly right.

Maya tells a potential customer a Beanie Baby is retired.Apple

Maya reads off a Beanie Baby poem she wrote for Stripes. Trivedi didn't just write many of the poems fans became familiar with — she pitched the idea for putting them inside the hangtags.

Trivedi says she wrote the poem for Stripes, who shares the same birthday as her, in five minutes.Apple

Maya reads off a Beanie Baby poem she wrote for Stripes. Trivedi didn't just write many of the poems fans became familiar with — she pitched the idea for putting them inside the hangtags.

Unlike Maya, Trivedi didn't have a cubicle at Ty Inc.

Maya is seen working in a cubicle in "The Beanie Bubble." That wasn't actually the case.Apple

A Ty Inc. representative refutes the film's claim that the Beanie Baby creator was obsessed with his appearance and plastic surgery.

Ty Warner shakes hands in a rare appearance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Beanie Babies toy line at the American International Toy Fair February 16, 2003 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Ty Warner really turned down calls from Steven Spielberg's office.

Steven Spielberg.AP Images

According to news reports, former US trade rep Charlene Barshefsky really tried to bring Beanie Babies from China back to the US after a trip with President Clinton.

Former U.S. trade rep Charlene Barshefsky is seen in May 2000.Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images

Ty Warner really did throw a massive company party where employees were awarded the equivalent of their salaries as bonuses, plus a rare Beanie Baby.

Zach Galifianakis as Ty Warner in "The Beanie Bubble."Apple

Trivedi was paid $12.50, not $12 by the end of her time at Ty Inc.

Maya next to a photo of Trivedi during her time at Ty Inc.Apple, Courtesy Lina Trivedi

Trivedi did not go on to work for the Pokémon company. She's currently working with AI.

The website for Lina Trivedi's latest venture, Joii.Joii.AI

Faith McGowan, who Sheila is based on, most likely did not sell a bunch of Spooky beanies to become rich. She did sell her #1 Bear.

What a #1 Beanie Baby bear looked like.BBToyStore/Youtube

The real Robbie, Patricia Roche, really did run Ty UK.

Elizabeth Banks as Robbie in "The Beanie Bubble."Courtesy of Apple

Ty Warner really did buy a hotel. Today, he owns multiple luxury hotels and golf courses.

The Four Seasons entrance in New York City.Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Zero Halliburton

Warner was really convicted of tax evasion, but avoided going to jail.

Ty Warner leaves federal court after being sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, in Chicago.Andrew A. Nelles/AP Photo

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9 things in 'The Beanie Bubble' that actually happened, and 12 that were made up or embellished

Beanie Babies really spilled onto a highway, but it was Teenie Beanies that caused a minor stir.

The movie claims Ty Warner and his father dated the same woman. A representative for Ty Inc. says it's untrue.

The film claims that Robbie, a character based on Patricia Roche, was Warner's neighbor and married when they first met and decided to launch Ty Inc. together.

The real Maya, Lina Trivedi, didn't join Ty Inc. when she was 17, but she did have to groom plush toy animals.

Ty Warner and Sheila (a character based on Faith McGowan) did not meet inside Warner's house.

The film claims a little girl designed a Beanie Baby, was given credit for it, and then had the credit taken away by Warner. A representative for Ty Inc. called the film's depiction a "gross distortion" of actual events.

Trivedi really pitched the idea for the Ty.com website, but she wasn't its sole creator.

Ty Inc. didn't originally own the Ty.com domain.

The movie suggests it was Maya's idea to retire Beanie Babies, creating a supply and demand. That's not exactly right.

Maya reads off a Beanie Baby poem she wrote for Stripes. Trivedi didn't just write many of the poems fans became familiar with — she pitched the idea for putting them inside the hangtags.

Unlike Maya, Trivedi didn't have a cubicle at Ty Inc.

A Ty Inc. representative refutes the film's claim that the Beanie Baby creator was obsessed with his appearance and plastic surgery.

Ty Warner really turned down calls from Steven Spielberg's office.

According to news reports, former US trade rep Charlene Barshefsky really tried to bring Beanie Babies from China back to the US after a trip with President Clinton.

Ty Warner really did throw a massive company party where employees were awarded the equivalent of their salaries as bonuses, plus a rare Beanie Baby.

Trivedi was paid $12.50, not $12 by the end of her time at Ty Inc.

Trivedi did not go on to work for the Pokémon company. She's currently working with AI.

Faith McGowan, who Sheila is based on, most likely did not sell a bunch of Spooky beanies to become rich. She did sell her #1 Bear.

The real Robbie, Patricia Roche, really did run Ty UK.

Ty Warner really did buy a hotel. Today, he owns multiple luxury hotels and golf courses.

Warner was really convicted of tax evasion, but avoided going to jail.