If you’ve been anywhere near a television or news app over the past few months, you’ve probably heard about the Wicked movie. The film, which debuted on November 22, is based on the iconic Broadway musical and tells the origin story of Elphaba, the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, and her unlikely friendship with Glinda. The musical, a staple in Broadway history, explores themes of friendship, power, and the complexity of good versus evil, and the movie adaptation has quickly captured the world’s attention.
With Wicked being one of the most anticipated films of the year, Universal spared no expense in promoting it. There have been exclusive merchandise deals with Target, new themed shopping and dining areas set up at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, and dozens of media appearances by the cast. One of the most popular promotional items? Limited-edition Wicked dolls created by Mattel that closely resemble Elphaba and Glinda.
The dolls were meant to be a collector’s dream, but unfortunately, an unexpected error led to a shocking revelation for some buyers: a link on the back of the box that was supposed to direct customers to the Wicked movie’s official website—Wickedmovie.com—led them to Wicked.com, a pornographic site. Understandably, parents who bought these dolls were horrified, especially given that the dolls were marketed to children.
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Once the mix-up was discovered, Mattel quickly pulled the dolls from store shelves and announced plans to rebox them with the correct link. But not before one upset mother filed a lawsuit against the toy giant.
The lawsuit, filed by a South Carolina woman, claims that her young daughter was exposed to “hardcore, full-on nude pornographic images” when they inadvertently clicked on the link.
According to the suit, the mother alleges that Mattel did not offer a refund, and she is seeking compensation for emotional distress, as well as restitution for the error. The lawsuit, which was filed in California, argues that the dolls were “adulterated, worthless, and unfit for its intended and advertised age-appropriate audience.”
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The lawsuit has sparked widespread debate, especially considering that the dolls were marketed to young children, and the exposure to adult content could have serious emotional repercussions. According to the legal documents, the images on the website “depicted actual intercourse,” which the mother claims caused significant harm to her daughter.
“These scenes were hardcore, full-on nude pornographic images depicting actual intercourse,” the lawsuit reads. “The products are adulterated, worthless, and unfit for its intended and advertised age-appropriate audience.”
The class-action lawsuit also notes that Mattel’s public recall of the dolls, announced on November 11, did not include a public offer for refunds—an important detail in the ongoing legal battle. The mother who filed the suit is seeking not only a refund but also damages for emotional distress caused by the incident. She has requested a jury trial to resolve the matter.
In response to the controversy, Mattel issued a public apology, calling the error “unfortunate.” The company reassured consumers that the dolls were immediately removed from the shelves and reboxed with the correct link to the official Wicked movie site. However, many parents are still upset about the oversight, especially after some children may have been exposed to graphic content before the recall.
As of now, the South Carolina mother is attempting to turn the lawsuit into a class action, but a judge has not yet approved the motion.
Meanwhile, the Wicked movie is still raking in box office numbers, grossing nearly $400 million since its release. The film’s success, however, has been overshadowed by this controversy, and some are left wondering if Mattel will be able to put the matter to rest with a simple refund or if the company will have to face broader legal action.
So, what do you think? Should Mattel settle this with a refund, or should the mother’s lawsuit move forward as a class action? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
