EL SEGUNDO, California — Toy giant Mattel has issued an apology after discovering that the packaging for its new “Wicked” dolls mistakenly features a link to an adult website instead of the official movie site for the upcoming adaptation of the popular Broadway musical Wicked. Social media users on X were quick to point out that the link printed on the special edition dolls’ boxes leads to a porn website requiring visitors to be 18 or older to access.
In a statement to CNN, Mattel acknowledged the mistake, saying, “Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the US, which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page.” The company advised those who have already purchased the dolls to either discard the packaging or cover the incorrect link to avoid any confusion.
The Wicked movie, set to be released in two parts, stars singer Ariana Grande and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo. The highly anticipated adaptation tells the backstory of The Wizard of Oz from a fresh perspective, exploring the lives of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch, and Glinda, the Good Witch, before Dorothy’s arrival in Oz.
The first installment of Wicked will hit theaters on November 22, 2024, with the second part expected in November 2025.