#Socialites, get a load of this! Toy manufacturer Mattel recently found itself in hot water over a major misprint on the packaging of its new dolls from the upcoming movie “Wicked.”
Instead of directing parents and kids to the official movie site, the boxes inadvertently linked to a pornographic website… now with a big mistake like that, of course it sparked a flurry of reactions across social media, especially on X, where users were quick to point out the oversight.
As it turns out, the boxes of the special edition “Wicked” dolls, which are primarily being sold in the US, mistakenly lead to a page that requires visitors to be 18 years or older. Not exactly the kind of surprise parents were hoping for when picking up a toy for their little ones. Amid the backlash, in a statement to CNN, Mattel acknowledged the mix-up, saying,
“Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the US, which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page.” They didn’t shy away from the gravity of the situation, adding, “We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children.”
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So what the heck happens for those who’ve already snagged the dolls? Well, the company has recommended either discarding the problematic packaging or obscuring the link to avoid any awkward conversations with the kiddos.
As for the film itself, fans can mark their calendars for November 22, 2024, when the highly anticipated adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical finally hits theaters. Let’s hope that by then, Mattel has sorted out their packaging issues and that parents can focus on enjoying the magic of “Wicked” without any unintended detours.