A class action lawsuit was filed against Mattel, Inc. on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, alleging that the packaging for special-edition dolls related to the “Wicked” movie included a link to a pornographic website.
“Wicked” is a Universal Pictures film adaptation of the Broadway musical. The movie stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. “Wicked” broke the record for the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation and is the highest grossing movie ever based on a Broadway musical at the domestic box office. Toy manufacturer Mattel produced a series of dolls depicting the film’s main characters. The dolls are advertised for children ages 4 and up. The packaging for these dolls included a website link to a pornographic film studio, Wicked Pictures, rather than the correct link to the “Wicked” movie’s website. Mattel issued a recall of the dolls on November 11, 2024.
Plaintiff Holly Ricketson purchased one of these dolls for her minor daughter. Ricketson’s daughter used a cellphone to visit the website link printed on the doll’s packaging. The website displayed “scenes of pornographic advertisements” showing “hardcore, full on nude pornographic images depicting actual intercourse.” Ricketson and her daughter were “horrified by what they sa[w].” The complaint states that had Ricketson been aware of the defect in the product, she would not have purchased said product. The complaint further states that the dolls in question are “adulterated, worthless, and unfit for its intended and advertised age-appropriate audience.”
Although Mattel declined to comment on the pending litigation, it did provide a statement: “The Wicked Dolls have returned for sale with correct packaging at retailers online and in stores to meet the strong consumer demand for the products. The previous misprint on the packaging in no way impacts the value or play experience provided by the product itself in the limited number of units sold before the correction.”
The complaint states causes of action for (1) unjust enrichment; (2) negligence; (3) breach of express warranty; (4) breach of implied warranty of merchantability; (5) violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act; (6) violation of California’s False Advertising Law; and (7) violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law.
Additional Reading
Mattel Sued Over ‘Wicked’ Dolls That Included Link to Porn Website on Packaging, Variety (December 3, 2024)
Holly Ricketson v. Mattel, Inc. (Case No. 2:2024cv10389)
Complaint in Holly Ricketson v. Mattel, Inc.
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