In a surprising turn of events, fans eagerly awaiting the release of the highly anticipated Wicked movie were confronted with an unexpected detail on the packaging of dolls inspired by the film. The small print on the packaging for Mattel's new singing dolls, featuring stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, inadvertently included a link to an adult website under the Universal Pictures logo, which has left some parents and fans bewildered.
The dolls are geared towards children aged four and above, with Mattel promoting them as safe and appropriate for young audiences. However, social media exploded as shoppers shared images of the packaging that led to the questionable link. "I purchased the Singing Elphaba doll and upon inspection, the website printed on the back side [of the] Mattel box, right above the barcode is listed as... an unaffiliated adult [not safe for work] 18+ website," one concerned fan posted on Reddit.
Others joined the conversation, confirming similar findings while shopping at major retailers such as Target and Walmart. "Went to Target and Walmart today and yeah, the Wicked dolls have the [porn] website listed," remarked a US-based woman on social media.
The recent mix-up comes just ahead of the film’s release, planned for 22 November, which tells the story of a friendship between two young women in the Land of Oz before the advent of Dorothy Gale from Kansas. The plot centers around Elphaba, portrayed by Erivo, and Glinda, brought to life by Grammy award-winning singer Grande.
As excitement builds for the film after two decades of stage performances, the inclusion of an adult website on the merchandise has become an unintended distraction from the movie's highly anticipated premiere. Mattel has been approached for comment on the blunder, which raises questions about quality assurance and oversight in toys aimed at young children.
