The manufacturer of toys Mattel, famous for his iconic dolls like Barbie, finds himself at the heart of a controversy following a major printing error on the packaging of his new dolls bearing the effigy of the music film “Wicked”. An incorrect URL registered on the boxes redirect consumers not to the official site of the film, but to a pornographic site.
An error that could have been avoided
In anticipation of the release of the film “Wicked”, adaptation of the famous musical inspired by the Magician of Oz, Mattel designed dolls representing the main characters Glinda and Elphaba, embodied on the screen by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. These dolls were part of a marketing strategy aimed at capitalizing on the expectation aroused by the film, in the room since December 4, 2024. However, an insufficient verification led to the impression of the “wicked.com” URL instead of “wickedmovie.com” on the packaging. This incorrect URL refers to an adult site, causing discomfort among parents and public opinion.
A bad buzz that falls badly
The error, quickly noted by consumers, sparked out on social networks and the media. Mattel, in an official press release, apologized for this “unhappy printing error”, claiming to have taken measures to prevent this from happening again. The manufacturer recommends that customers throw the packaging concerned or hide the erroneous link. Products still on shelves have been removed from the market to correct the anomaly.
Mattel apologizes
Faced with this delicate situation, Mattel published a press release in which she recognizes this “regrettable error” and apologizes to consumers.
“We deeply regret this error and we immediately took measures to remedy it”said the group in a declaration relayed by the media. The company advises parents who bought the dolls to throw the packaging or hide the inappropriate link to prevent children from trying to access the inadvertent site.
As part of its corrective measurements, Mattel also suspended the sale of dolls concerned on online platforms such as Amazon and Target, and removed the products from physical stores. The brand encourages consumers to contact its customer service for any alternative questions or solution.
Unpredictable consequences
This blunder intervenes in a context where Mattel relies on the diversification of his products, in particular by associating with cinematographic franchises. While “Wicked” promises to be a major end -of -year event, with a prestigious distribution including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey, this error could tarnish the brand’s image.
In a country where Puritanism remains significant, this incident could lead to legal repercussions or an increase in collective actions. Will Mattel’s rapid reaction be enough to contain the damage and reassure its consumers? Only time will tell us!
