Mattel inadvertently linked children’s dolls to a pornographic website due to a misprint.
- The movie tie-in dolls for ‘Wicked’ were directed to wicked.com instead of wickedmovie.com.
- Mattel issued an immediate apology and advised parents to discard the incorrect packaging.
- The dolls, now pulled from major retailers, appeared at inflated prices on eBay.
- Retailers including Target and Walmart have removed the dolls from their shelves.
A significant oversight by Mattel has led to a troubling situation where promotional dolls for the kids’ movie ‘Wicked’ inadvertently redirected consumers to a pornographic website. On the packaging of these dolls, a web address intended to link to the official movie page was misprinted to wicked.com, a site known for adult content. This error was discovered over the weekend, leading to swift action from the toy manufacturer.
The dolls are associated with Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ musical spinoff, which features renowned actors such as Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Cynthia Erivo, and Arianna Grande. This festive release anticipated capturing a broad family audience, but the incorrect URL introduced an unfortunate twist, diverting attention from the movie’s content to concerns over online safety.
Mattel responded to the blunder with an apology, stating their regret over the incident and urging consumers to either dispose of the faulty packaging or to obscure the misleading link. They highlighted that the wrong website is not suitable for children and reassured that measures are being implemented to address the issue thoroughly. Parents are advised to seek further assistance from Mattel’s Customer Service if needed.
Following the discovery of the misprint, major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Macy’s, and Amazon started removing the affected product from their shelves. The dolls, which originally retailed between $24.99 and $39.99, have since surfaced on eBay at prices reaching up to $800 (£619), as collectors and opportunists aim to capitalise on the recall.
The incident underscores the importance of strict quality controls, especially for products aimed at young consumers. Mattel’s prompt response, though necessary, serves as a reminder of the potential impact of errors in the digital age, where information, once released, is challenging to retract.
Mattel’s swift action highlights the critical nature of accuracy in product information to maintain consumer trust.
