In brief
Eagle-eyed fans of the highly anticipated Wicked movie were in for a surprise when they discovered that the packaging for newly released dolls featured an unexpected adult website address.
In an amusing turn of events, toy manufacturer Mattel mistakenly included a URL linked to a pornography website on the packaging of their singing dolls inspired by the upcoming film, Wicked, which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Fans, excited to purchase the dolls, took to social media to share their findings, showcasing the box that ironically carries the address of the adult site, also named Wicked, just above the barcode. One Reddit user expressed their shock after buying the Singing Elphaba doll, stating, "I inspected the packaging, and there it was – an unaffiliated adult 18+ website." Many others echoed similar sentiments, and one woman noted her observations while shopping at Target and Walmart, confirming that the dolls indeed had the incorrect URL printed.The mishap caught the attention of Mattel, the company behind the dolls, which has yet to comment publicly on the issue. Notably, the BBC had access to the online instructions for the Glinda and Elphaba dolls on Mattel's website, where the adult URL was displayed under the Universal Pictures logo—Universal being the studio producing the film.Despite the mix-up, Mattel continues to market the dolls as suitable for children aged four and older. The eagerly awaited Wicked movie, based on the acclaimed musical, covers the first act of the story set in the Land of Oz prior to Dorothy's arrival. The film features British actress Erivo as Elphaba, a green-skinned character misunderstood by those around her, who forges a deep bond with Glinda, portrayed by pop superstar Grande. Wicked is set to premiere in theaters in both the US and UK on November 22, much to the excitement of fans worldwide, who are still buzzing about the memorable mishap in doll packaging.
