Mattel Faces $5 Million Lawsuit Over Misprinted ‘Wicked‘ Doll Packaging
A South Carolina mother filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against toy giant Mattel on Tuesday, alleging the company mistakenly printed a link to an adult entertainment website on the packaging of dolls tied to the blockbuster movie “Wicked.”
Graphic Content Leads to Emotional Distress
Holly Ricketson, the plaintiff in the case, stated that she purchased a “Wicked” doll for her daughter. However, her daughter inadvertently accessed the adult website through the provided link, exposing her to “hardcore photographs.”
“We were both horrified by what we saw,” Ricketson said in a statement. “This has caused us significant emotional distress.”
Ricketson added that she would not have purchased the doll had she been aware of the misprinted link and expressed disappointment that Mattel has not offered refunds despite recalling the dolls on November 11.
Mattel Expresses Regret, Resumes Sales of Corrected Dolls
Mattel declined to comment on the lawsuit specifically. However, the company issued a statement expressing regret for the error and confirming that sales of “Wicked” dolls with the correct packaging have resumed in stores and online.
Mattel’s initial intention was to direct purchasers to the official movie website, WickedMovie.com, not to a similarly named site aimed at adults.
The company recommends its “Wicked” dolls for children aged 4 and up.
Seeking Damages for Consumers
The lawsuit seeks at least US$5 million in damages for anyone in the United States who purchased “Wicked” dolls with the misprinted link.
It accuses Mattel of negligence, selling products unfit for sale, and violating California consumer protection laws.
In addition to “Wicked” dolls, Mattel’s product line includes iconic toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels.
“Wicked” Movie Enjoys Box Office Success
“Wicked,” the movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Since its November 22 release, it has grossed US$263.2 million in the United States and US$360.3 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.
What are the potential consequences for Mattel if they are found liable in this case?
## Mattel in Hot Water Over “Wicked” Doll Packaging
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us tonight is legal analyst, Jane Doe, to discuss a shocking lawsuit filed against toy giant Mattel. Holly, can you give us the rundown on this situation?
**Jane Doe:** This is certainly a cringe-worthy situation for Mattel. A South Carolina mother, Holly Ricketson, has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the company, claiming that a “Wicked” doll she purchased for her daughter came with packaging that included a link to an adult entertainment website. [[1](https://nypost.com/2024/12/03/business/mattel-sued-over-wicked-dolls-with-porn-website-link/)]
**Host:** Wow, that’s incredibly alarming. What kind of damages is Ms. Ricketson seeking?
**Jane Doe:** The lawsuit is seeking $5 million in damages. Obviously, Ms. Ricketson is alleging emotional distress for herself and her daughter after encountering this inappropriate content.
**Host:** Mattel has made no official statement yet, but how do you see this case playing out?
**Jane Doe:** This is definitely a PR nightmare for Mattel. They’ll likely need to act swiftly to address the issue, including offering refunds and taking steps to prevent this from happening again. A recall of the affected dolls is also likely. Public perception is crucial in these types of cases, so Mattel needs to demonstrate that they take consumer safety and concerns seriously.
**Host:** It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds. Jane Doe, thank you so much for your insights on this developing story.
**Jane Doe:** My pleasure.
