San Antonio
AI Assisted Icon
Published on November 11, 2024
Mattel Apologizes for "Wicked" Doll Packaging Error Leading to Adult Site, Prompt Withdrawal from Retailers including Target and WalmartSource: Google Street View

The recent release of Mattel's "Wicked" dolls, meant to celebrate the upcoming musical film, has taken an unexpected turn after a packaging error linked consumers to an adult website. As reported by FOX San Antonio, social media users were the first to raise awareness of the misprint, which was supposed to direct customers to the official movie website but erroneously listed the domain of an adult entertainment company instead.

Mattel has since acknowledged the error, which they deeply regret, and is taking steps to rectify the situation quickly. "We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this," Mattel stated, as outlined by a report from The Los Angeles Times. The dolls are a tie-in for Universal's anticipated film adaptation of "Wicked," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and they were being sold at major U.S. retailers, including Target.

The mishap promptly led to the dolls being pulled from the shelves as the toy manufacturer scrambled to address the confusion and contain any potential fallout. According to The Los Angeles Times, Target, a retail partner for the film, has removed the doll line from its stores. Similar actions were reported by other outlets including Walmart. The film "Wicked," directed by John M. Chu, is still expected to debut in theatres on November 22, seemingly unscathed by the product mishap.

Mattel has advised those who have already purchased the dolls, urging them to either discard the packaging or obscure the mistaken link to avoid inadvertent exposure to the inappropriate content. "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," Mattel noted, as per their statement obtained by The Los Angeles Times. Customers with concerns have been directed to reach out to Mattel’s Customer Service for further support and information.