This year, I’ve decided to (on occasion) write posts giving my opinion (2 cents!) on random issues that I have a definite opinion about. (Honestly, I try not to get too caught up in a lot of “issues”, but certain things just “hit a nerve”.)
One thing that I really don’t like is when companies act like consumers are stupid. In my opinion, that’s what Ty Inc. is doing with the Malia and Sasha dolls issue. (You’ll notice that I don’t link to the company or show an image of the dolls. I don’t want to give them more “free press” than they’re already receiving!)
Anyway, quick background (in case you’re interested). It is reported that First Lady Michelle Obama is not happy about two new dolls that Ty Inc. placed on the market this month. Her rep is quoted as saying that it is “inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes.” The two dolls at issue are “Marvelous Malia” and “Sweet Sasha”, two brown-colored dolls.
Here’s the part that annoys me… Ty Inc.’s people are saying that the dolls’ names were chosen because “they are beautiful names” not because of the Obama children. PLEASE. Does Ty Inc. think that we consumers are ignorant? Oh yes, you just happened to release two brown dolls with the same names as the new President’s brown daughters on the very month that the President was inaugurated? I don’t think so!
Instead of lying, Ty Inc. could have responded in a variety of ways. My top two choices:
1. They could have acknowledged that they should have asked for the Obamas consent before making the dolls in their daughters’ names and likeness. Then, perhaps they could have worked with the first family to see if there was some type of charity or something that they would like a percentage of the sales to go towards.
Or Even
2. They could have acknowledged that yes; the dolls were inspired by the Obama girls but that they don’t have a legal obligation to get the family’s consent since the names aren’t trademarked.
However, they did neither. Because of that, I would never buy those dolls for any girl in my life. (What a shame, because they’re relatively few Black dolls on the market. This could have been a great set of dolls for the Ty line.) In fact, I won’t be purchasing any more Ty products in the near future. I really try to watch where my dollars are spent and I refuse to support companies that don’t respect their customers enough to be honest with them!
I know that in the grand scheme of things, this really isn’t a big deal. But what do you think? Am I missing something? Is it possible that Ty is being honest?! (For the record, I would be equally insulted if they did this type of thing with any celebrity kid – i.e. a “Suri” doll that favored Tom Cruise’s daughter; etc.; etc.)