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Barbie toy company Mattel publicly apologises to parents after listing a not-so-children-friendly website on Wicked dolls collection packaging.
Wicked movie merchandising has ironically lived up to the movie’s title in a not-so-children-friendly way. In a nightmarish development, toy company Mattel accidentally listed an adult porn site on the packaging of a merch line meant for children four and up. The “unfortunate error” was attributed to the similarities shared between the X-rated website and the URL promoting the upcoming film adaptation of the hit musical.
The forthcoming Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-starring big-screen project follows up the previous Mattel-based Margot Robbie-led Barbie blockbuster. Ahead of its November 22 cinematic premiere, the film is not only making the news for its world premiere and other promotional photo-ops but also a major slip-up. The web address erroneously listed on the boxed merchandise line is wicked.com (domain registered since 1994) instead of wickedmovie.com.
Also read | Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith make rare public appearance for first time in 6 months
Mattel apologises for major Wicked dolls collection slip-up
Later on Sunday, the Hot Wheels creator issued an apology: “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,” read the statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. "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.”
Something wicked this way comes on the packaging of Mattel‘s “Wicked” dolls.
There’s a website listed on the toy box, but instead of linking to the webpage for the movie adaptation of the Tony-winning musical, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Mattel has mistakenly listed the URL to a pornographic website.
The film’s official website is WickedMovie.com, but the address listed on the plastic packaging for the special edition dolls, created in partnership with Universal Pictures, is written as Wicked.com. The latter website directs to a page that requires users to be 18 years or older to enter.
A description of Wicked Pictures on its website reads: “Established in Canoga Park, California on March 1st, 1993, Wicked Pictures was formed with a firm commitment to producing quality parody porn movies, a decision the company has stayed true [to] since its beginning.” The pornographic site also notes that Wicked Pictures “continues to diversify and expand its commitment to quality cinematic content” through films like “Black Widow XXX” and “Captain Marvel XXX: An Axel Braun Parody.”
In a statement shared with Variety Sunday regarding the erroneous web address, Mattel said: “Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel ‘Wicked’ collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page. 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.”
Photos of the incorrect web address on the boxes of various “Wicked” dolls, including Erivo’s character Elphaba and Grande’s Glinda, began to circulate online after the film’s Los Angeles premiere, with fans criticizing Mattel for the error.
“Hey @Mattel whoever is responsible for your marketing/packaging for the new official Wicked dolls have made a HUGE mistake,” one person wrote on X. “The wicked.com on your packaging takes you to a porn site!”
Another X user wrote, “Whoever did this needs to be fired immediately cuz why would they do that knowing that it’s mostly kids buying these dolls.”
Mattel’s line of “Wicked” movie dolls are being sold at retailers like Target, Amazon and Kohl’s. Variety has reached out to Universal for comment.
Erivo and Grande reacted in July (prior to the website mistake) to seeing the dolls based on their “Wicked” characters in a video posted to Instagram. “What a dream come true to be realized as Elphaba and Glinda in the form of Sweet Little dolls,” Erivo captioned the post. “Little Cynthia and little Ari are pleased.”
Wicked movie merchandising has ironically lived up to the movie’s title in a not-so-children-friendly way. In a nightmarish development, toy company Mattel accidentally listed an adult porn site on the packaging of a merch line meant for children four and up. The “unfortunate error” was attributed to the similarities shared between the X-rated website and the URL promoting the upcoming film adaptation of the hit musical.
The forthcoming Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-starring big-screen project follows up the previous Mattel-based Margot Robbie-led Barbie blockbuster. Ahead of its November 22 cinematic premiere, the film is not only making the news for its world premiere and other promotional photo-ops but also a major slip-up. The web address erroneously listed on the boxed merchandise line is wicked.com (domain registered since 1994) instead of wickedmovie.com.
Also read | Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith make rare public appearance for first time in 6 months
Mattel apologises for major Wicked dolls collection slip-up
Later on Sunday, the Hot Wheels creator issued an apology: “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,” read the statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. "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.”
Something wicked this way comes on the packaging of Mattel‘s “Wicked” dolls.
There’s a website listed on the toy box, but instead of linking to the webpage for the movie adaptation of the Tony-winning musical, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Mattel has mistakenly listed the URL to a pornographic website.
The film’s official website is WickedMovie.com, but the address listed on the plastic packaging for the special edition dolls, created in partnership with Universal Pictures, is written as Wicked.com. The latter website directs to a page that requires users to be 18 years or older to enter.
A description of Wicked Pictures on its website reads: “Established in Canoga Park, California on March 1st, 1993, Wicked Pictures was formed with a firm commitment to producing quality parody porn movies, a decision the company has stayed true [to] since its beginning.” The pornographic site also notes that Wicked Pictures “continues to diversify and expand its commitment to quality cinematic content” through films like “Black Widow XXX” and “Captain Marvel XXX: An Axel Braun Parody.”
In a statement shared with Variety Sunday regarding the erroneous web address, Mattel said: “Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel ‘Wicked’ collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page. 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.”
Photos of the incorrect web address on the boxes of various “Wicked” dolls, including Erivo’s character Elphaba and Grande’s Glinda, began to circulate online after the film’s Los Angeles premiere, with fans criticizing Mattel for the error.
“Hey @Mattel whoever is responsible for your marketing/packaging for the new official Wicked dolls have made a HUGE mistake,” one person wrote on X. “The wicked.com on your packaging takes you to a porn site!”
Another X user wrote, “Whoever did this needs to be fired immediately cuz why would they do that knowing that it’s mostly kids buying these dolls.”
Mattel’s line of “Wicked” movie dolls are being sold at retailers like Target, Amazon and Kohl’s. Variety has reached out to Universal for comment.
Erivo and Grande reacted in July (prior to the website mistake) to seeing the dolls based on their “Wicked” characters in a video posted to Instagram. “What a dream come true to be realized as Elphaba and Glinda in the form of Sweet Little dolls,” Erivo captioned the post. “Little Cynthia and little Ari are pleased.”