By John Q. Hosedrinker 
We at Mattel deeply regret an error on packaging for our “Wicked” dolls, which mistakenly printed a link to an adult website instead of the official “Wicked Movie” landing page. This mistake, primarily affecting US-sold dolls, is unacceptable and we are taking immediate action to correct it. We urge parents to discard or cover the packaging to prevent children from accessing the incorrect website, and we apologize for any distress this has caused.
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Mattel, the toy giant, recently found itself in hot water after a rather unfortunate printing error on packaging for their “Wicked” movie dolls. The packaging mistakenly displayed a URL that led to a pornographic website, instead of the intended link to the movie’s official website. This error has sparked a whirlwind of online discussions, with many expressing amusement and disbelief at the blunder.
The incident has raised concerns about potential exposure of children to inappropriate content, especially given that the dolls were marketed to young fans of the upcoming “Wicked” movie. It appears a simple oversight during the packaging design and approval process led to the accidental inclusion of the pornographic website URL.
A sense of disbelief and amusement permeates the online chatter about the incident. Many speculate that the employee responsible for approving the packaging must be facing a challenging week, with a mix of jokes and expressions of sympathy for the individual who likely made the mistake.
Adding to the amusement, the incident has sparked a conversation about the website’s owner, who seemingly capitalized on the accidental exposure by adding an age gate to their website, ensuring that only adults could access their content.
While the situation is undoubtedly awkward for Mattel, it also provides a humorous reminder of the importance of meticulous attention to detail, particularly when designing products aimed at children. It’s a reminder that even the biggest companies can make mistakes, and the internet is always ready to point out the inconsistencies.
The “Wicked” dolls packaging blunder serves as a cautionary tale for any company that handles marketing materials for children’s products. It emphasizes the need for stringent checks and balances to prevent such errors from occurring.