Mattel Faces Lawsuit After 'Wicked' Dolls Packaging Links to Adult Website

Mattel Sued Over ‘Wicked’ Dolls: Controversy and Legal Action

Source: Variety

Overview of the Lawsuit

• Mattel is facing a class-action lawsuit due to a misprint on the packaging of their special-edition “Wicked” dolls.
• A South Carolina woman claims the packaging mistakenly directed to a pornographic website instead of the official film site for "Wicked".

Details of the Incident

• The plaintiff purchased the doll for her young daughter, who inadvertently accessed explicit content linked to the misprinted site.
• Part of the lawsuit states that the plaintiff and her daughter experienced “emotional distress” from the incident.

Mattel's Response

• Mattel acknowledged the error and has since removed the affected dolls from retailers.
• The company has released a corrected version of the dolls, stating the mistake doesn’t impact the product's play experience or value.

Market Impact

• After the film "Wicked" premiered, it grossed $263 million domestically and $360 million globally despite the controversy.
• Universal Pictures remarked that the misprint incident wasn’t expected to damage ticket sales significantly.

Conclusions

• The lawsuit sheds light on the responsibilities of toy manufacturers regarding content appropriateness and product labeling.
• This incident serves as a crucial lesson for brands in ensuring accurate and safe marketing practices.