A mother from South Carolina has initiated a lawsuit against toy manufacturer Mattel after the company mistakenly listed a pornographic website on the packaging of its recently released singing dolls. These dolls were launched last month in conjunction with the highly anticipated film adaptation of the musical Wicked, which features Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
In the suit, filed on Tuesday, Holly Ricketson states that she purchased the doll for her young daughter, who subsequently accessed the adult content site advertised on the packaging. The lawsuit describes the distressing moment when the young girl showed her mother "hardcore, full-on nude pornographic images," leading both to experience horror and emotional trauma. Ricketson's legal team claims that the incident stemmed from what they call an "inexcusable error" on Mattel's part, rendering the dolls "unfit for their intended purpose."
Mattel has issued an apology, labeling the error as "unfortunate" and has recalled the affected dolls. However, Ricketson asserts that no refunds have been offered, prompting her to take legal action. The lawsuit claims she would never have purchased the doll if she had been aware of the misprint. Seeking a total of $5 million in damages, the class-action suit aims to include all consumers in the U.S. who bought the incorrectly labeled dolls.
Further claims in the lawsuit allege negligence on Mattel's part, as well as violations of California consumer protection laws and the sale of products deemed unsuitable for purchase.
The film Wicked, which premiered on Broadway in 2003 and has captivated audiences for years, features Grande as Galinda and Erivo as Elphaba. Since the film's release in the U.S. and UK on November 22, it has garnered impressive box office returns, amassing $263.2 million domestically and $360.3 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.
As the situation develops, Mattel has yet to respond to requests for further comment.
