From Barbie to Bratz dolls, there has long been a discussion about the sexualization of kids’ toys, particularly those that are marketed to young girls. And now, a Trolls World Tour doll, specifically the Giggle & Sing Poppy, has been pulled from the shelves due to a massive controversy. But why is the Trolls doll making headlines in the first place? The controversy began when an Instagram user named Jamie Cornaby made a video (which was later reposted by Instagram user @redpillbabe) saying that her 2-year-old daughter was gifted the Giggle & Sing Poppy for her birthday. All was fine until Cornaby noticed that the toy manufacturer, Hasbro, had placed a small button between the doll’s legs. When the button is pressed, the doll makes giggling and gasping sounds.
Hasbro spokesperson Julie Duffy wrote, “This feature was designed to react when the doll was seated, but we recognize the placement of the sensor may be perceived as inappropriate,” in a statement released via Deadline. In Cornaby’s video, she implies that she thinks that the company is “grooming our kids” for sex trafficking through the doll. Other parents seemed to agree. Jessica McManis recently started a Change.org petition to remove the Poppy doll from shelves, writing “Our society is conditioning our children to think pedophilia is ok.” The petition has now gone viral with almost 300,000 signatures.
Instagram has now added a fact-checking label on Cornaby’s video to confirm that, y’know, “There is no evidence, beyond the fears of some mothers, that the button is part of a secret strategy by the toymaker to prep kids for sex trafficking.” Hasbro has since responded to the petition and assures concerned parents that the company is “in the process of removing the item for purchase” and will “provide consumers with a replacement Poppy doll of similar value through our Consumer Care team.” Is it strange that Hasbro placed the button where it did? Yep. Does it have anything to do with sex trafficking? That’s highly doubtful. But at least Hasbro plans on doing right by customers who are disturbed by the giggle-inducing-butt-button.
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This article was originally published on Aug. 7, 2020
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