Toy giant Mattel is facing a class action lawsuit after a mistake on the packaging of its special-edition "Wicked" dolls led to the misprinting of a URL that directed to a adult site.
The dolls, which are based on Universal Pictures' hit musical Wicked, mistakenly included the link for Wicked Pictures, an adult entertainment website, instead of the correct URL for the film's official site.
The lawsuit, filed by a South Carolina resident, claims that her young daughter visited the adult site after seeing the inappropriate link on the doll's packaging. Both the mother and her child were allegedly distressed after encountering explicit content. The plaintiff further asserts that if she had known about the misprint, she would not have purchased the product.
In response, Mattel pulled the dolls from shelves at major retailers such as Target, Amazon, and Kohl's. The company acknowledged the error in a statement, assuring consumers that the packaging issue has since been corrected. Mattel also recommended that buyers discard or obscure the faulty packaging.
The lawsuit highlights the emotional distress caused by the misprint, and the plaintiff seeks compensation for damages. Despite the controversy, Universal Pictures has downplayed the issue, with the film’s marketing chief suggesting the incident would not significantly affect ticket sales. The Wicked movie has already grossed over $360 million globally, with a strong box office performance since its release.
This legal challenge adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding product safety and consumer rights, particularly in the toy industry.
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