Wicked movie dolls mistakenly link to adult website

NEW YORK: Mattel’s special edition “Wicked” movie dolls have sparked outrage due to a printing error on the packaging that directs users to an adult website.

The dolls, a collaboration with Universal Pictures, were intended to promote the film’s official website but instead listed a URL leading to explicit content.

The mistake was discovered following the film’s Los Angeles premiere, prompting swift online backlash. Concerned parents and fans took to social media to express their alarm. One user demanded accountability, stating, “Whoever did this needs to be fired immediately… it’s mostly kids buying these dolls.”

The dolls, featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s characters, are sold at prominent retailers like Target, Amazon, and Kohl’s. Despite the controversy, Mattel and Universal Pictures have not commented on the misprint.

Ironically, Erivo and Grande had previously celebrated the doll releases on social media, excited to see their characters as collectibles. However, this oversight has overshadowed the enthusiasm, raising questions about quality control and responsibility in marketing products to children.

The toy company Mattel says it is taking “immediate action” after mistakenly printing a pornographic website address on the packaging for dolls released to tie in with the upcoming Wicked film.

Mattel released a statement on Sunday addressing the error.

“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,” the statement read.

“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. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel customer service for further information.”

The error occurs amidst high anticipation for the film, underscoring the importance of attention to detail in product packaging, especially when targeting young audiences.