Mattel Apologizes for Misprinted Packaging on 'Wicked' Dolls
Toy manufacturer Mattel has issued a public apology following the discovery of a packaging misprint on its latest "Wicked" dolls. The error, which inadvertently directed consumers to an adult website, was brought to light by social media users.
The misprint affected dolls based on the characters Glinda and Elphaba, primarily impacting sales in the US. The dolls' packaging featured a QR code that, when scanned, led to a pornographic website instead of the intended URL promoting the upcoming musical fantasy film starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
In response to the viral posts, Mattel released a statement acknowledging the "unfortunate error" and pledged to take swift corrective action. "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," it added.
The company advised parents that the incorrectly listed website is inappropriate for children and encouraged consumers who have purchased the affected products to either discard the packaging or obscure the link. Mattel also noted that customers seeking further information can contact their customer service team.
Following the incident, the dolls with the misprinted packaging are being removed from store shelves at major retailers, including Walmart, Macy's, Kohl's, Best Buy, DSW, and Amazon.