WASHINGTON, USA – Toys R Us on Wednesday said it was pulling “Breaking Bad” dolls from its shelves after a Florida woman complained about the kids’ store selling the drug-themed products.
“Let’s just say the action figures have taken an indefinite sabbatical,” the retailer said in a statement widely circulated by US media, a cheeky nod to the hit TV show whose main character quits his job as a chemistry teacher to become a drugs kingpin.
Toys R Us drew criticism after Susan Schrivjer of Fort Myers, Florida started an online petition for the retailer to drop the dolls.
Plastic figurines depict Walter White holding a handgun and White’s accomplice, Jesse Pinkman, wearing a protective suit used in the manufacture of crystallized methamphetamine.
The toys come complete with a little gas mask and a tray of blue crystals.
The Toys R Us decision to sell the dolls was “a dangerous deviation from their family-friendly values,” Schrivjer wrote.
“Get those taken off the shelves and put them in an appropriate store. Put them in an adult store,” she told a local TV station.
Actor Bryan Cranston, who plays the show’s Walter White, jokingly tweeted: “I’m so mad, I’m burning my Florida Mom action figure in protest.”
Toys R Us puts Breaking Bad toys on 'indefinite sabbatical.' Word on the street is that they were sent to Belize. Nicely played Florida Mom.
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) October 22, 2014"Florida mom petitions against Toys 'R Us over Breaking Bad action figures." I'm so mad, I'm burning my Florida Mom action figure in protest
— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) October 20, 2014Meanwhile, Bryan’s co-star, Aaron Paul, also tweeted his thoughts:
Wait, so @ToysRUs pulled all of the Breaking Bad figures from their shelves and still sells Barbie? Hmmmm…I wonder what is more damaging?
— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) October 23, 2014And what about all of the violent video games you sell @ToysRUs ? Do you still sell those? Florida mom really messed it up for everyone.
— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) October 23, 2014Here's the petition to sign to keep the toys on the shelves! This would be so fun to show the Florida mom. YeahBitch https://t.co/8iEFsLBCIn
— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) October 24, 2014Schrivjer’s petition garnered more than 9,000 signatures. – Rappler.com
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