Fans spot porn website on Wicked dolls packaging
Eagle-eyed Wicked fans got more than they bargained for when small-print on packaging for dolls inspired by the movie mistakenly listed the address for an adult website.
Mattel recently released the singing dolls ahead of the long-awaited Wicked movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
People who bought the dolls posted pictures on social media of the packaging which had a pornography website called Wicked, instead of the movie’s web address.
Mattel, the toy company that manufactures the dolls, has been contacted for comment.
The BBC has seen online instructions on Mattel’s website, for both the Glinda and Elphaba dolls, listing the erroneous website underneath the Universal Pictures logo – the film studio behind the movie.
Mattel recommends the dolls for children aged four and above.
Fans who bought the doll posted their surprise on social media.
“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 [not safe for work] 18+ website,” one person posted on Reddit.
“Anyone else seeing this!?”
In another post, a US-based woman said: “Went to Target and Walmart today and yeah, the Wicked dolls have the [porn] website listed.”
The Wicked movie comes after two decades of the musical on stage.
Set in the Land of Oz before Dorothy Gales’ arrival from Kansas, the movie covers the musical’s first act.
British actress Erivo plays Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin and who is yet to discover her power which will eventually lead her to becoming the Wicked Witch of the West.
She strikes up an unlikely friendship with classmate Glinda, played by Grammy-winning singer Grande, who will go on to become the Good Witch of the North.
The movie is set to be released in the US and UK on 22 November.