A MAJOR child’s toy brand is facing backlash from parents after a printing blunder sent kids to a porn website.
Barbie makers Mattel have been working on a new range of dolls for the upcoming Wicked movie but creators failed to notice a huge issue on the packaging.
MattelMattel is facing backlash from parents after a printing blunder sent kids to a porn website[/caption]
X/just2goodThe URL linked on the packaging accidentally took shoppers to a porn site rather than the official movie site[/caption]
MattelThe error was on US sold Wicked dolls[/caption]
A web address on the back of each individual doll accidentally sent buyers to a porn site which shares its name with the highly-anticipated movie.
The URL directly took customers to a page that displayed a message reading: “The following website, including all webpages, links, images and videos, displays sexually oriented, including explicit, material of a pornographic nature.”
Once concerned parents saw the website and realised the printing error Mattel quickly sent out an apology saying it deeply regrets the “misprint”.
The official statement said: “We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this.
“Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children.
“Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.”
They said that many of the incorrect URLs had only affected US shoppers buying the Mattel Wicked collection dolls range.
Fans who bought the doll quickly posted the surprising error on social media.
One said on Reddit: “I purchased the Singing Elphaba doll and upon inspection, the website printed on the back side [of the] Mattel box, right above the barcode is listed as… an unaffiliated adult 18+ website.
“Anyone else seeing this!?”
Another American woman added: “Went to Target and Walmart today and yeah, the Wicked dolls have the website listed.”
British actress Cynthia Erivo and US pop sensation Ariana Grande star as famous witches Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked.
The film is set to wow audiences on the big screen after years of it only being available as a hit Broadway and West End show.
The movie hits theatres in the US on November 22.
It takes place before The Wizard of Oz’s famous storyline.
As the plot unfolds, so does the friendship and shared backstory between Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland.
Elphaba and Glinda are also known as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
A second film has also been in the works and is expected to be released in 2025.
Who is in the Wicked cast?
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp
Ariana Grande as Glinda
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
Ethan Slater as Boq
Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp
Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond
Bowen Yang as Pfannee
Bronwyn James as ShenShen
Keala Settle as Miss Coddle
Aaron Teoh as Averic
Grecia de la Paz as Gilligan
Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik
Adam James as Glinda’s father
Universal Pictures /The highly anticipated movie is due to be released later this month[/caption]
GettyCynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in the movie[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
