Mattel Faces $5 Million Lawsuit Over Adult Website Misprint on Doll Packaging

After a significant misprint on the packaging of Wicked-themed dolls linked to a pornographic website, Mattel is being sued for $5 million by a mother claiming emotional distress for her minor daughter after the mistake was found.

In an unsettling incident, a South Carolina mother has initiated legal action against toy giant Mattel after the packaging of its newly released Wicked singing dolls inadvertently displayed the address of an adult entertainment website. Released in conjunction with the highly-anticipated film adaptation of the musical Wicked, featuring stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the dolls' packaging mistake took a serious turn when the mother, Holly Ricketson, purchased the doll for her young daughter.

According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Ms. Ricketson's daughter reportedly accessed the inappropriate website, which displayed "hardcore, full-on nude pornographic images." This experience left the mother and daughter "horrified" and resulted in emotional distress, as outlined in the court documents. The lawsuit labels the error as "inexcusable," contending that it rendered the dolls "unfit for their intended purpose."

Although Mattel has publicly apologized for the incident and instituted a recall of the dolls, Ricketson's lawsuit asserts that the company has failed to provide refunds to consumers affected by the mistake. She further contends that had she been aware of the misprint, she would not have purchased the doll.

The lawsuit is structured as a class action, seeking $5 million in damages for anyone in the U.S. who bought the dolls featuring the erroneous packaging. In addition to the misprint, Ricketson's legal team accuses Mattel of negligence and violations of California consumer protection laws.

As the beloved musical Wicked continues to enjoy success since its Broadway debut in 2003, and with its film adaptation recently released, the attention surrounding this lawsuit highlights critical issues regarding consumer safety and product integrity. Box Office Mojo reports that the film has grossed over $263 million in the United States alone since its debut on November 22. A comment from Mattel regarding the ongoing lawsuit has yet to be received.