Mattel faces £3.94m lawsuit after nasty doll packaging lures children to porn sites

A South Carolina mother, Holly Ricketson, has filed a lawsuit against toy maker Mattel after she discovered that the address of a pornographic website was printed on the packaging of a doll she bought for her daughter. This unfortunate incident has raised concerns among consumers regarding product safety and quality control.

The bizarre mistake leads to legal action

A lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges Ricketson’s daughter discovered a pornographic website shortly after receiving a doll. The packaging contained a misprint above the barcode that incorrectly advertised an inappropriate website instead of the brand’s social media accounts. Ricketson described their shocked reaction when they discovered “harsh, nude pornographic images” on the website. The lawsuit alleges that the emotional distress caused by the incident horrified both mother and daughter.

The puppets behind the controversy

The dolls were released to celebrate the film adaptation of Evilwhich stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. These dolls are intended for children ages four and up, which is why the packaging error has sparked widespread outrage.

Mattel is responding and taking action

Mattel acknowledged the error and expressed its deep regret over the misprint, calling it an “unfortunate mistake.” The company has warned parents that the incorrectly listed website is unsuitable for children and recommended that anyone who owns the product should either discard the packaging or cover the link to the offending website. Despite recalling the dolls on November 11, the company has not offered customers any compensation.

What the lawsuit entails

In his lawsuit, Ricketson sought at least 3.94 million pounds ($5 million) in damages on behalf of all U.S. consumers who purchased the misprinted dolls. The court documents allege that the existence of the pornographic website constitutes an “inexcusable mistake” and makes the dolls unsuitable for their intended audience. The lawsuit accuses Mattel of negligence and a violation of California consumer protection laws and argues that the company failed to ensure that its product was safe for sale.

Background information on Wicked: From stage to screen

Evilwhich premiered in both the US and UK on November 22, is a two-part film based on a musical that premiered on Broadway in 2003 and has grossed around £4 billion ($5 billion) since its inception has. The musical has been running in London’s West End for almost twenty years. The story delves into the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her classmate Glinda, the Good Witch.

In its opening weekend, the film grossed £14 million in the UK and £88.2 million (US$112.5 million) in the US, making it the highest-grossing premiere of 2024.

More controversy surrounding the film

That was before it was even published Evil The film was the center of controversy and scandal.

Grande and Slater’s on-set romance

Ariana Grande’s relationship with co-star Ethan Slater sparked controversy after filming wrapped. Ariana ended her marriage to Dalton Gomez in July 2023 and began a relationship with Ethan, who had just had a baby with his wife Lilly Jay. Ethan then filed for divorce and Lilly felt blindsided and betrayed because Ariana had spent time with them while they were married. According to sources, Ethan Lilly revealed his romance with Ariana just days before it went public. Universal Pictures is said to have advised them to stay out of the public eye for six months.

Erivo’s outrage over a fan edit

Cynthia Erivo, another star of the film, criticized a fan edit of the official Wicked movie poster, calling it the “wildest and most offensive” she’d ever seen. In the editing, her hat was exaggerated to cover her eyes and her lips were painted red to give the official poster a more realistic replica of the iconic Broadway version. On Instagram, Erivo expressed her dissatisfaction and stated: “This is not funny.” It humiliates me. The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION, although I am a real person.’ She emphasized that changing her image would erase her identity and be deeply hurtful. Finally, Erivo released the official poster and emphasized that their version is a homage and not an imitation. The general consensus among fans was that Erivo was overreacting and her Instagram stories sparked memes and discussions on the subject.

The situation between Mattel and Ricketson’s maternal outrage is a reminder of how important quality control is in toy manufacturing, especially products for young children. The lawsuit highlights the potential consequences of failings in marketing and packaging, as well as the responsibility companies have to ensure their products are safe and appropriate for their target audience.