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Mattel apologises for ‘misprinting’ link to adult site on Wicked toy boxes

Mattel apologises for ‘misprinting’ link to adult site on Wicked toy boxes

The link was intended to direct customers to the official site for the much-anticipated Wicked movie, starring Ariana Grande.
Updated 12 Nov, 2024

Toy giant Mattel has found itself in hot water after a packaging error that led its customers to an adult entertainment site rather than the official site for the much-anticipated Wicked movie, starring Ariana Grande.

To promote the movie’s release on November 22, Mattel rolled out a limited edition line of Wicked dolls inspired by the beloved characters Glinda, Elphaba, and others.

On November 9, Sarah Genao, a shopper, posted on X about the discovery on the back of a Glinda doll box she found in-store. Her images revealed the URL for the website wicked dot com printed near the barcode, a link that lead to an age-restricted adult website, not the expected movie site.

Other fans quickly confirmed that the same link appeared on the boxes of other dolls in the collection.

Mattel quickly issued a formal apology, saying it “deeply regrets” the misprint. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the company clarified that the link was intended to direct customers to WickedMovie.com, the official website for the film presented by Universal Pictures. A simple omission of the word “movie” resulted in the misdirection, linking instead to the adult site.

“Our intent was to celebrate the characters brought to life by Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba,” Mattel stated. “We are committed to resolving this issue quickly.”

The dolls, priced at $39.99 and available at major retailers such as Target, Amazon, and Walmart, have been generating excitement since their launch on September 26. Each doll reflects the look and persona of the film’s characters, with some models even including singing features to mirror the actors’ on-screen performances.

For customers who may already have the product, Mattel advises discarding the packaging or obscuring the link and has directed affected buyers to reach out to Mattel Customer Service for more information.

Comments

Kami Nov 11, 2024 06:41pm
"The dolls...have been generating excitement since their launch." I'd say the excitement might be due to the link on the packaging rather than the dolls themselves...
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Tahmad Nov 11, 2024 07:39pm
I think, it’s just a human error, let the manufacturer correct it.
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chipmonk33 Nov 11, 2024 11:01pm
How is it possible that the word 'movie' was omitted by mistake? And they get away with a simple apology. A boycott of their products should is what is needed.
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Ron Nov 12, 2024 03:08am
This is digital age, and everyone has to be careful, a small glitch or a misspell can take someone behind bars
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Laila Nov 12, 2024 03:29am
Probably not a mistake considering the subliminal and sometimes overt direct symbolism of sex and x-rated stuff on old Disney cartoons.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Nov 12, 2024 10:54am
Too little, too late.
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