Hasbro Pulls Trolls Doll Due To Child Abuse Charges

The internet is buzzing over a Trolls doll that has been generating complaints from many people, even state senators. Many saying the plastic doll is promoting child abuse.

According to a story by the Providence Journal, the toy maker who designed and marketed the Trolls doll, Hasbro has said that they are in the process of getting the “Trolls World Tour Giggle and Sing Poppy” off stores shelves and off online retailers. Hasbro has also indicated that they will be offering customers a replacement doll of the popular female character.

The issue with the doll is in the design. It is suppose to giggle when you place it into a sitting position. However, the backlash came from concerned parents when they realized that the button to cause the giggling was between the legs, and under the skirt of the doll. Many people felt that combination of the placement of the button as well as the action of causing the doll to giggle when pressed is highly inappropriate and may condition children to thinking that touching in that area by others is considered OK and fun.

There is even an online petition at change.org that suggests the doll is:

“conditioning our children to think pedophilia is OK. This is not okay for a child’s toy! This toy needs to be removed from our stores.”

The petition started by Jessica McManis, and has over 250 thousand supports as of the writing of this article, also says:

“What will this toy make our innocent, impressionable children think? That it’s fun when someone touches your private area?”

Hasbro spokeswoman Julie Duffy told The Providence Journal:

“This was not intentional and we are happy to provide consumers with a replacement Poppy doll of similar value through our consumer care team,” she told the newspaper. “We are in the process of removing the item for purchase.”

What are your thoughts? Do you think this is valid, or are people over blowing the issue?