Toy Company's Misprint Links Doll Packaging To Adult Website, Then...

Toy maker Mattel has issued an apology after mistakenly printing the address of a pornographic website on packaging for dolls promoting the upcoming film Wicked. The error gained attention over the weekend when social media users discovered that the web address on the doll boxes redirected to an adult website.The Wicked Dolls, featuring the characters Glinda and Elphaba, were launched in anticipation of the musical fantasy film starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. However, instead of leading consumers to the intended official site, wickedmovie.com, the packaging linked to wicked.com—a website with explicit content.Mattel, known globally for iconic brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels, markets its products primarily to children across more than 150 countries. The misprint on the Wicked doll packaging raised significant concern among parents and consumers.

The official Mattel Wicked dolls link to a porn site on the box 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iW4mNVAlPE

— just2good (Sarah Genao) (@just2goodYT) November 9, 2024

On Sunday, Mattel addressed the issue, calling it an “unfortunate error.” In a statement, the company clarified, “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 continued, “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.”