Gender-neutral toys have become a political hot potato.
Mr. Potato Head will drop his gendered brand name and logo and instead go by the gender-neutral name of “Potato Head,” according to Hasbro. The toy company said the prefix omission for its potato-shaped plastic toy line will begin to appear on boxes in stores this year.
“Hasbro is making sure all feel welcome in the Potato Head world by officially dropping the Mr. from the Mr. Potato Head brand name and logo to promote gender equality and inclusion. In the fall, the new Potato Family Pack ‘Create Your Potato Head Family’ will celebrate the many faces of families allowing kids to imagine and create their own Potato Head family,” Hasbro said in a statement on Thursday. “The name change will come with a fresh branding look with a whimsical color palette and more inclusive messaging along with new product to appeal to the modern consumer.”
Hasbro later issued a pun-filled clarification, stressing its Mr. Potato Head and Mrs. Potato Head products aren’t going anywhere.
Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD pic.twitter.com/6I84KrxOLQ
— Hasbro (@Hasbro) February 25, 2021
Still, Hasbro’s gender-neutral branding announcement prompted a Twitter storm mocking the decision. Guido Fawkes, a right-wing political website published by blogger Paul Staines, mocked the decision, saying that Mrs. Potato Head is “said to be distraught” by the announcement.
BREAKING: After 70 years Toy manufacturers Hasbro have announced they will be making Mr Potato Head a gender-neutral toy. Mrs Potato Head is said to be distraught and not available for comment.https://t.co/xX8e69Dkff pic.twitter.com/6uG2vcQQyF
— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) February 25, 2021
English broadcaster Piers Morgan argued the decision reflected a lack of priorities.
“Imagine thinking in the middle of a global pandemic: ‘What’s really important is dropping the ‘Mr’ from Mr Potato Head & making him gender-neutral in case we upset a few wokies,'” he wrote.
Imagine thinking in the middle of a global pandemic: ‘What’s really important is dropping the ‘Mr’ from Mr Potato Head & making him gender-neutral in case we upset a few wokies.’
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 25, 2021
Comedian Tim Dillon also contrasted the announcement with pressing political concerns.
“Mr Potato Head is now non binary,” he wrote. “You still don’t have health insurance.”
Mr Potato Head is now non binary. You still don’t have health insurance. ? https://t.co/YWowKQKE2n
— Tim Dillon (@TimJDillon) February 25, 2021
“Why stop there? What about the ‘bro’ in Hasbro?” tweeted Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican from Illinois.
Why stop there? What about the “bro” in Hasbro? https://t.co/uWsfzPTpbU
— Congresswoman Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) February 25, 2021
In recent years, toy companies have adopted new additions to their lineups of classic character brands, such as the updated Barbie doll featuring multiple skin tones and body shapes, Mattel’s decision to begin selling male American Girl dolls, and Monopoly’s release of Madame Monopoly in 2019.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Mattel and Hasbro but did not immediately receive a response.
