A group of parents are demanding a major American toy retailer remove from its shelves action figures that portray the characters from a major television series that deals in the subject of America’s methamphetamine culture.
Available for teens to find under the Christmas tree this holiday season is a six-inch plastic action figure of a TV drug dealer, complete with detachable weapons, bags of cash and little chunks of crystal meth. According to an increasing number of petitioners against the product, this is unacceptable.
Susan Schrivjer, a mother from Fort Myers, Florida, decided to take action with an online petition demanding Toys “R” Us stop selling the figures, which are sold as part of a deal with Sony Pictures Television, the distributor of the show
The petition, which can be found at www.change.org reads: “Toys ‘R’
Us is well-known around the world for their vast selection of
toys for children of all ages. However their decision to sell a
Breaking Bad doll, complete with a detachable sack of cash and a
bag of meth, alongside children’s toys is a dangerous deviation
from their family-friendly values.
“That’s why I’m calling on Toys ‘R’ Us to immediately stop
selling the Breaking Bad doll collection in their stores and on
their website.”
"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, 2014
Schrivjer’s campaign work has already succeeded in attracting more than 2,300 signatures.
When promoting Breaking Bad on talk shows, the actors gave audiences bags of candy crystal meth. FYI. Meth! It's fun AND delicious!
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) October 21, 2014
In a statement to WFTX, Toys “R” Us said, "The products you reference are carried in very limited quantities and the product packaging clearly notes that the items are intended for ages 15 and up. Items from this TV series are located in the adult action figure area of our stores."
READ MORE: Real life 'Breaking Bad': Man sold meth to save his toddler son, spends life in jail
Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston, who starred in the role of
Walter White, provided a tongue-in-cheek response to Schrivjer's
movement.
"'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," he tweeted.