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- Aug 29, 2008
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1. Hasbro's "Spastic" Transformer
Apparently American company Hasbro didn't do proper market research before releasing this product in 2010.
Unaware that "spastic" is a condescending term used to describe people with disabilities in the United Kingdom, they happily went on to name their Transformer toy "Spastic with Stunticons".
Hasbro defended itself, saying that it never intended to release this product in the UK, though there were reports that plans for this were scrapped.
The worst part, however, is that the company refused to rename this toy in the US.
2. Padded bras for children
Already surrounded with "role models" such as Miley Cyrus, who has been criticised for being scantily clad on several occasions, parents were angered when UK fashion retailer, Primark, released padded bras and low-cut bikini tops for small girls in 2010.
They called for a boycott of this store for enforcing the wrong values on children. Parent groups, and even British Prime Minister David Cameron were against this sexualisation of children.
Finally, Primark withdrew these products, and said that it would donate any profits it had made from them to charity.
3. Mattel's Oreo Barbie
Not only did the Barbie doll company team up with a company that sells unhealthy food - strike one - but it also apparently did not know that the toy carried racial slurs.
Mattel's 1998 black Barbie was ingeniously called "Oreo", which the creators probably did not know is an ethnic slur meant to describe a black person who is "white in the middle".
These dolls caused outrage among the public, and Mattel quickly pulled out the dolls from shelves.
5. Dick Tracy tramp figure
How about a toy that pokes fun at the homeless and encourages insensitivity?
The packaging for the "Steve the Tramp" figures - which depict characters from the 1990 movie Dick Tracy - makes statements such as "Ignorant bum...You'll smell him before you see him" and "Stinking up the city sewers".
A church leader contacted manufacturers about this, and soon after, the manufacturers withdrew these dolls.
6. Mattel's 'Teen-Talk' Barbie
The product of a sexist man perhaps?
Some dolls from the Teen Talk Barbie spew phrases such as "Will we ever have enough clothes?" and "I love shopping!", and more worryingly, cast into doubt the intelligence of girls by saying "Math class is tough!"
Mattel later withdrew the dolls which could say the last phrase.
7. Misspelled Toddler Toys
Talk about having a poor start in life. Toys are a fun way for kids to learn how to spell, yes?
Perhaps not for these toys by supermarket Morrisons, which had gross spelling errors - "yacht" was spelled as "yatch", and "umbrella" as "umberlla".
Initially, the supermarket said that it would not remove its toys from the shelves until they ran out. But they eventually did, after receiving several complaints from parents.
8. Mattel's Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 Vibrating Broomstick
The lesson from this failed product is - just because kids may not understand it, doesn't mean it is ok.
In line with the Harry Potter craze, Mattel came up with a long broomstick for kids that can vibrate when they sit on it.
The product did receive rave reviews, not from children however, but from adults. Feeling guilty, Mattel took these broomsticks off the shelves.
9. Costco's 'Li'l monkey' doll
When you unintentionally make the link between a human and a monkey, you're really pushing it.
Costco was accused of being insensitive, for selling its black doll (it had wanted to show racial diversity in its range), but wearing a hat that said "lil' monkey". Worst still, it was packaged together with a stuffed toy monkey. The perceived racial discrimination upset the black community, and the product was recalled.
10. Tesco's Peekaboo stripper
Why on earth would children be encouraged to pretend to be a stripper?
Tesco apparently felt there was a market for their Peekaboo Pole, which came complete with a pole, garter and fake money.
This toy was placed in the "Toy" section, but was moved later to the "Fitness" section after receiving complaints from parents.
