Parents outraged as Toys ‘R’ Us sells Breaking Bad dolls
61 replies, posted
[QUOTE]The American toy shop Toys “R” Us has been criticised by parents for selling a range of drug dealer dolls based on the television series Breaking Bad.
One of the six-inch figures, which sell for $17.99 (£11.16), even portrays a dealer clutching a gun, with a detachable bag of cash and blue rocks of the drug crystal meth.
Others are dressed in Hazmat protective suits, with a description reading: “as [the] Breaking Bad action figure stares at you from inside his collector friendly clamshell package, he dares you to make your move.”
Breaking Bad is based on the character of high school chemistry teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who goes into business with a former student, Jesse Pinkham, portrayed by Aaron Paul, producing and selling crystal meth in order to make money for his family before he dies from terminal cancer.
The series, which ended last year to many fans’ distress, has won a slew of Emmys and other awards but is known for its violent scenes and high drama.
The dolls are sold as part of a deal with Sony Pictures Television, which distributes the show, in Toys “R” Us’s “collectable” selection, and are aimed at adults and children older than 14.
However, parents took to the toy giant’s Facebook page to say that they did not want their teenagers to be exposed to drug dealing even at the age of 15.
One wrote: “Nothing says toys for kids like an action figure with a bag of crystal meth. I can’t wait for my 15 year to grow up like that.”
Another added: “A new low … Breaking Bad toys? Come on! Pull them and be done with this nonsense and have just a morsel of common sense and decency.”
Mother Susan Schrivjer, from Fort Myers, Florida, has now launched an online petition urging Toys “R” Us to remove the dolls from its shelves.
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[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11174844/Parents-outraged-as-Toys-R-Us-sells-crystal-meth-Breaking-Bad-dolls.html[/url]
This is exactly what happened to the Django Unchained Figures
Oh no, I'm outraged about things!
Out of all the parent outrage stories you see, I gotta say, this one is pretty legitimate. I wouldn't want my child to play with a character from a show like Breaking Bad.
So don't buy them?
[QUOTE]“Nothing says toys for kids like an action figure with a bag of crystal meth. I can’t wait for my [B]15 year old[/B] to grow up like that.”
[/QUOTE]
If the kid was 5 or something I could understand. But if your kid is 15, I'm pretty sure they're mature enough to not emulate that behavior, and if they do, a fucking action figure wouldn't be the source of influence.
Are these even meant for kids?
I mean, they are described as "Collectible" and kids won't even have seen the show (or shouldn't have :P) to know who these are...
I remember when Duke Nukem Forever came out, Toys R Us was giving out a free Duke Nukem figure with purchase of the game.
Y'know, balls of steel. For kids!
[QUOTE=Tmaxx;46291199]Oh no, I'm outraged about things![/QUOTE]
Breaking news: Criticizing every instance of people being offended makes you look intelligent to others
[QUOTE=Starlight 456;46291200]Out of all the parent outrage stories you see, I gotta say, this one is pretty legitimate. I wouldn't want my child to play with a character from a show like Breaking Bad.[/QUOTE]
Eh, it's more like parents taking things at face value.
'Figure in a toy store? Must be made for all children!'
In reality, it's split into a 14+ section that is more focused towards adults.
It's like complaining about guns/ammo being near the toy section in Walmart stores. Just because it's there does not mean it is meant for your child.
[QUOTE=Starlight 456;46291200]Out of all the parent outrage stories you see, I gotta say, this one is pretty legitimate. I wouldn't want my child to play with a character from a show like Breaking Bad.[/QUOTE]
Not everything they sell is directed at 10 year olds though, this is obviously more for an older crowd, they can sell whatever they want its not for little kids
They have team fortress 2 and walking dead zombie and horror movie icon collectables with blood and gore on them.
[QUOTE=Mysterious Mr.E;46291290]They have team fortress 2 and walking dead zombie and horror movie icon collectables with blood and gore on them.[/QUOTE]
but apparently a yellow hazmat suit and gasmask is toooo far
[QUOTE=Starlight 456;46291200]Out of all the parent outrage stories you see, I gotta say, this one is pretty legitimate. I wouldn't want my child to play with a character from a show like Breaking Bad.[/QUOTE]
Who else is going to help Barbie cook?
[QUOTE=endorphinsam;46291294]but apparently a yellow hazmat suit and gasmask is toooo far[/QUOTE]
Maybe if it was Tod the neo-Nazi child killer, the spider in the jar, and the half-dissolved body action set.
No exploding meth-lab playset?
I bought deadspace figures from toys r us, I think it's much more graphic than BrBa, bitch about that, parents.
[QUOTE=Starlight 456;46291200]Out of all the parent outrage stories you see, I gotta say, this one is pretty legitimate. I wouldn't want my child to play with a character from a show like Breaking Bad.[/QUOTE]
So then don't buy the fucking things
The BrBa figures are typically in the area with the other high end collectibles, the NECA video game figures and shit. It's not like they're next to the LEGO section or something.
Who even has the time of day to be outraged by something this dumb and actually take somebody up on it
How about being a good parent so your child doesn't do drugs
to be fair who wants to get their collectibles at Toys 'r' Us
If you don't want your child to play with that toy than don't buy it for them???
I don't understand what's wrong???
What 15 year old kid still gets toys from Toys 'R Us?
I was just in there. I see The Walking Dead toys with tons of blood, Alien/Predator/Prometheus figures all over the place too.
At least with Breaking Bad, you can tell your kid the blue rocks are candy. Good luck explaining the other gory shit that isn't being complained about.
[editline]21st October 2014[/editline]
[QUOTE=Starlight 456;46291200]Out of all the parent outrage stories you see, I gotta say, this one is pretty legitimate. I wouldn't want my child to play with a character from a show like Breaking Bad.[/QUOTE]
Then don't buy it for your kid. These are $18 figures that are in the teen/adult merchandise sections. It's not being sold next to Legos and Barbies like they're saying. If they're going to go after that, at least go after the toys with tons of blood on them. Also I've seen NECA Half Life 2/Team Fortress 2/Memelands stuff being sold in there.
Oh no! Rather than say "no" to buying them and/or explaining to their children why they can't have them and/or taking them away if the children buy them on their own, its MUCH easier to start a freakin' crusade against the figures.
Also, it doesn't seem like they have drug making action/battle damage/anything other than merely being related to Breaking Bad. Most teenagers have probably had more offensive toys/collectibles already. What next? Take away police themed toys because you think your child will get the urge to be a vigilante or something(I apologize if this actually happened)? Don't buy your kids a tinkertoy set because they somehow will make a bomb with it?
If it was me, I'd go after Skylanders as those teach kids that you can get away with extortion(want to actually finish the game? cough up $75 for enough figures!).
They're not meant for kids. They're more or less statues anyway. TRU stocks a lot of higher end stuff like NECA, who makes all the video game figures for Team Fortress and Half Life 2 etc
Even if ToysRUs says the "collectibles" are for 14 and up, I'm guessing that the section of the store is really meant for 20 or 30 year old adult nerds.
I've seen Left 4 Dead stuff at toys r us before, including an exploded boomer leg thing. You'd think that would be worse?
[QUOTE=Chaotic Lord;46291210]If the kid was 5 or something I could understand. But if your kid is 15, I'm pretty sure they're mature enough to not emulate that behavior, and if they do, a fucking action figure wouldn't be the source of influence.[/QUOTE]
Wait, wait..
I don't know about how it's like in America but here someone age 15 isn't a kid but a younger adult.
I see the bigger problem here that a 15 y/o male's shopping at Toys 'r Us than there being Breaking Bad action figures.
[QUOTE=TheTalon;46291366]So then don't buy the fucking things[/QUOTE]
I think it's more the issue of having to explain to a kid why they shouldn't have toys of a murderous meth cook.
Cranston doesn't seem too bothered:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/7Is49kk.png[/img]
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