In a twist that would make even Elphaba blush, Mattel’s quality control team discovered that their “Wicked” movie merchandise was directing customers to destinations decidedly more risqué than the Emerald City. The mishap occurred when a QR code on the dolls’ packaging went rogue, leading to what company officials described as “definitely not the yellow brick road.”
“We were aiming for ‘Popular,’ not ‘Pornular,'” quipped an anonymous Mattel employee, referencing one of the musical’s famous songs.
Corporate Damage Control: A New Kind of Defying Gravity
Mattel’s PR team has been working overtime, performing what industry insiders are calling “the fastest product recall since that time Hasbro accidentally made Play-Doh that smelled like fermented fish.”
A company spokesperson stated, “We assure our customers that our dolls are still perfectly wholesome. They just temporarily had a rather… alternative lifestyle website as a roommate.”
Parents’ Reactions: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Local parent groups have been surprisingly understanding, with one mother noting, “Well, at least the kids can’t scan QR codes without borrowing our phones. Though I must say, explaining to my 8-year-old why mommy threw the doll box into the fireplace was an interesting conversation.”
Technical Experts Weigh In
Tech analyst Dr. Sarah Binary explained, “This is what happens when you let your summer intern handle the QR code generation after their third energy drink. Always double-check your URLs, people!”
The Silver Lining
Mattel has promised to make it up to customers by offering replacement packaging, though some collectors are already listing the “special edition” boxes on eBay for surprisingly high prices.
“It’s a limited edition mistake,” explained one collector. “Like that time Disney accidentally drew something inappropriate in ‘The Little Mermaid’ castle, but this time with more modern technology.”
New Quality Control Measures
The company has announced new quality control measures, including:
- Triple-checking all QR codes
- Hiring a dedicated “URL Verification Specialist”
- Installing parental controls on the company’s QR code generator
- Adding “Is this porn?” to their standard quality control checklist
Looking Forward
As Mattel works to correct this magical mishap, the incident serves as a reminder that in our digital age, even the most innocent of toys can accidentally take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
The company has assured shareholders that future “Wicked” merchandise will stick to more appropriate content, though they admit the incident has given new meaning to the song “For Good.”