S.C. mom sues over ‘Wicked’ doll typo that led to porn site
(Gray News) - A South Carolina mother is suing Mattel after dolls created for the film “Wicked” mistakenly linked to a porn website on their packaging.
In the lawsuit, Holly Ricketson said she bought a “Wicked” doll for her daughter, who then visited a website through the link provided by the toymaker.
The official website for the film, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is “wickedmovie.com.”
However, when her daughter visited the link provided on the packaging, she was shocked to discover the website had nothing to do with the “Wicked” dolls.
Instead, she viewed “scenes of pornographic ments across her phone screen.”
According to the lawsuit, the scenes were “hardcore, full on nude pornographic images depicting actual intercourse.”
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The typo appeared on multiple characters’ boxes, including those of Elphaba and Fiyero.
Ricketson said she would not have bought the doll had she known of the mistake. So far, she said Mattel has not offered refunds despite recalling the dolls on Nov. 11.
The lawsuit claims that Ricketson and her daughter “experienced emotional distress” due to the error on the doll’s packaging.
An attorney in the lawsuit said, “Parents trust that products marketed to children are safe and free from risks of exposure to harmful content.”
Ricketson is seeking to recover damages because the products are “adulterated, worthless, and unfit for its intended and d age-appropriate audience,” the lawsuit stated.
The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million of damages for anyone in the United States who bought “Wicked” dolls whose packaging included the incorrect link.
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Mattel declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said in a statement that sales of “Wicked” dolls with correct packaging have resumed in stores and online.
The company has expressed regret for the error.
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