A Wicked Misprinting

Photo by Mattel
Photo by Mattel

The whimsical world of Oz and doll culture is receiving controversy not because of their singing or misprinting of the new WICKED stars, but due to Porn?

What the Shiz?

“Wicked,” the movie, has been on a massive press run, including interviews with legacy media, flights across the country for premieres and even Wicked dolls for young children. The toy aisles have been filled with Elphaba and Glinda dolls everywhere you look in local retailers. This all came to a screeching halt however when it was found that Mattel, best known for its Barbie dolls, created a major misprint on the back.

Dolls in the mislabeled packaging have flooded eBay, with sellers seeking hundreds of dollars for the items. The dolls normally sell for between $20 and $40 depending on the accessories.

Today Show discussing resellers of the misprinted doll

The misprint had the wrong website, “WWW.WICKED.COM”. The link takes you to an adult film website that is very easy for children to access. But to some, this comes as no surprise due to the rise in manufacturing products within our society.

Mattel 'Wicked' Movie Dolls Ariana Granda Cynthia Erivo
Photo posted by Mattel
One Short Mistake.

Starting in June, Mattels Chief Design Officer Chris Down shared how the company is using AI to its advantage for packaging.

“Mattel makes about 4,000 new toys a year, and a lot of that is packaging,” Down said. “There’s a high volume of stuff—and that gives the first clue as to why we’d be interested in tools that would make the outcomes better or stronger, would allow the creative process to move faster.” The toy manufacturer has not stated if the software was responsible for the ‘Wicked’ labeling error.

Diet prada reporting on the Wicked Misprinting

With the rise in artificial intelligence being used in product launching- double and triple new products may have to become a new reality. Who knows where the future of Mattel will go after this Wicked situation? While Mattel has not come out to explain the rumors surrounding their campaign and its potential use of AI, they have stated, “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.”

How do you feel about this Wicked situation? Let us know by tagging us @VALLEYmag on Instagram!

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