Social media was buzzing this weekend after several users noticed the glaring mistake made by the American toy company Mattel on the packaging of its new doll inspired by the main character of the movie Wicked.
The company included an incorrect URL on the boxes that, instead of leading to the official website of the movie, directed users to a page with pornographic content. Instead of "WickedMovie.com," the word Movie was omitted. A simple typographical error.
However, the controversy has reached such magnitude among consumers in the United States that the company itself has released a statement offering a formal apology. "We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate steps to rectify it. Parents are advised that the incorrect and misprinted website is not suitable for children." The company, unsure of how many "affected" dolls have been sold, does not specify if among the actions it will take includes removing all unsold boxes from stores.
In the meantime, the company advises consumers who already have the dolls to dispose of their packaging or hide the link, and to contact Mattel's customer service for more information.
The doll, inspired by one of the characters from the classic The Wizard of Oz and portrayed by singer Ariana Grande, was a product of a collaboration between Mattel and Universal Pictures.