Mother Takes Legal Action Against Mattel Over Doll Packaging Error

Holly Ricketson's lawsuit claims emotional distress and negligence after Mattel printed an inappropriate website address on doll packaging, seeking $5 million in damages for affected consumers.

A South Carolina mother, Holly Ricketson, has initiated a civil lawsuit against Mattel after an inappropriate link to a pornographic website was printed on the packaging of a doll intended for children. The dolls were released in anticipation of the film adaptation of the popular musical Wicked, featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

The incident came to light when Ricketson's minor daughter discovered the adult website while examining the doll's packaging, leading to a horrifying experience filled with "hardcore, full-on nude pornographic images," according to court documents. The lawsuit claims that both Ricketson and her daughter experienced significant emotional distress as a result of the exposure to explicit content.

Mattel acknowledged the error as an "unfortunate mistake" and has since issued a recall of the dolls, advising consumers to discard the faulty packaging. However, Ricketson argues that the company's actions, including a lack of offered refunds, are insufficient to address the significant oversight.

The lawsuit contends that the misprint constitutes negligence on Mattel’s part, rendering the dolls unfit for their purpose as children’s toys, and violates California consumer protection laws. Ricketson has filed for class-action status, seeking $5 million in damages on behalf of anyone in the U.S. who purchased the dolls with the inappropriate packaging.

The doll series is connected to the much-anticipated film Wicked, which opened in theaters on November 22. The film, based on the popular Broadway musical, has already grossed over $263 million domestically.

Mattel has yet to release a detailed comment on the legal matter.