A scantily clad Princess Leia action figure has left parents outraged after it was discovered in a Target store in Philadelphia this week.
Hasbro’s “Star Wars Black Series Princess Leia Figure” shows Leia dressed in her famous gold bikini from the iconic Jabba the Hutt slave scene in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” The doll comes complete with a chain around its neck.
Surprisingly, the action figure is marked for kids aged four and up, but upset parents have deemed the toy “indecent” and highly inappropriate. Single dad Fred Hill told Fox 29, “I got two daughters. I don't need [them] seeing that crap.”
Another parent, Tiffany Mahan, said: “It’s just a bit much for a child. So, no, I probably wouldn't give this to my four-year-old and maybe not an eight-year-old.”
The Princess Leia action figure was first introduced in 2013 and has been sparking debate over its appropriateness for children ever since. Psychologist Jenn Mann says these types of incidents give the perfect opportunity for parents to start a discussion with their kids.
“It’s an easy entry into talking about your beliefs and philosophies and how we treat others,” she explained to Yahoo Parenting. “Any time you have the opportunity to do that, take it.”
Interestingly, there is just as much support for the doll as there is backlash. One “Star Wars” fan, for instance, took to YouTube to explain why the doll is not inappropriate, but empowering.
“In the movie, ‘Return of the Jedi,’ [Leia] took this chain and she strangled Jabba the Hut with it. She stood up to her captor,” the fan, Liz Welsh, said in her video. “It shows [kids]: If someone’s abusing you, or anything like that, you’ve gotta stand up to them.”
Carrie Fisher, the actress who played Princess Leia in the 1983 film, agreed that the doll is not inappropriate.
In Canada, the Princess Leia action figure is sold at Toys R Us, Walmart and Superstore.
Do you think this doll is inappropriate for kids?
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