Toy company Mattel issues apology after printing porn website on packaging for new Wicked movie dolls
Global toy company Mattel has mistakenly printed a porn website on the packaging for the new Wicked movie dolls – which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
The movie – which is released in cinemas on November 22 – is a take on the theatre classic which sees Elphaba [played by Erivo], discover her power which will eventually lead her to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West.
Along the way, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with classmate Glinda [played by Grande] who will go on to become the Good Witch of the North.
Given the hype, popularity and excitement surrounding the movie, Mattel produced two dolls of Elphaba and Glinda – resembling the characteristics of Erivo and Grande.
However, fans were quick to notice a misprint on the back of the packaging, with the company mistakenly printing the address for a porn website.
The “not appropriate for children” misprint has forced Mattel to address the issue and promise to “remedy” the mistake.
The web address leads first to a page warning further access is restricted to adults over the age 18, with “explicit” material of a “pornographic nature” ahead.
Mattel has said it “deeply regrets” the error and it had intended to direct customers to the WickedMovie.com page.
A 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.
The official Mattel Wicked dolls link to a porn site on the box 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iW4mNVAlPE
— just2good (Sarah Genao) (@just2goodYT) November 9, 2024
“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.”
Fans who purchased the dolls took to their social media accounts to share their surprise, as one posted on Reddit: “I purchased the Singing Elphaba doll.
“Upon inspection, the website printed on the back side [of the] Mattel box, right above the barcode is listed as… an unaffiliated adult [not safe for work] 18+ website. Anyone else seeing this!?”
In another post, a US-based woman said: “Went to Target and Walmart today and yeah, the Wicked dolls have the [porn] website listed.”
Someone on X penned: “You had one job… lol -> Mattel accidentally linked to a porn site on new Wicked doll packaging.”
Slamming the mistake, a furious buyer expressed: “Universal Pictures put the wrong website for @wickedmovie on the back of their dolls for kids. It leads to a porn website. Really not on!”
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Another agreed: “So, Mattel’s initial release of dolls from the upcoming Wicked movie all have a link to a p0rn site on their packaging, instead of the actual one.
“That’s one heck of an international blunder to make.” (sic)