Mr Potato Head Will No Longer Be Referred To As Male!
Mr Potato Head Will No Longer Be Referred To As Male!
Toy giant Hasbro revealed Mr Potato Head is undergoing a name change. It will no longer be referred to as ‘Mister.” Instead, it will simply be called “Potato Head.”
The company made the statement overnight saying the decision is to make the toy gender neutral “to promote equality and inclusion.”
The iconic plastic toy was famously brought to life during the Toy Story franchise where it uttered the phrase: “That’s Mr Potato Head to you, you back-stabbing murderer,” to Woody, after he knocked Buzz Lightyear out of a bedroom window.
In a bid to stay current and relevant the company said the name change will take effect later this year.
”Hasbro today announced the iconic brand will be reimagined for the modern consumer,” read a statement on the manufacturer’s website.
Despite the name change, the plastic spud will still come with an assortment of accessories to allow children to “imagine and create their own Potato Head family.”
“The way the brand currently exists, with the “Mr” and “Mrs”, is limiting when it comes to both gender identity and family structure,” Hasbro general manager Kimberly Boyd told business magazine Fast Company. “Culture has evolved,” she added.
Not surprisingly, the decision to remove MR from Potato Head has not had a warm reception. In fact the change has been ridiculed all over social media with many commenters saying we’ve now taken things too far.
Ah yes, Mr. Potato Head. The man who taught me about gender. Everything I know about my gender came to me the old fashioned way as it did for all the other girls in the neighborhood for generations before and hence and as is rightly so — directly from Mr. Potato Head.
— Nellie Bowles (@NellieBowles) February 25, 2021
Bigotry ANNIHILATED https://t.co/FaogDQlL7A
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 25, 2021
Mr Potato Head, which was first released in 1952, isn’t the only toy which has had a modern update. Barbie now comes in a range of sizes and ethnicities and Mattel also released a line of gender-neutral dolls in 2019.
What do you think of the toy’s name change?
Chrystal Lovevintage
Chrystal is a writer and blogger who loves nothing more than watching back to back episodes of crime shows. Should she ever find herself needing to cover up a crime, she'll know exactly what to do! Her dream is to one day live in Palm Springs where she can do her writing poolside while drinking endless gin and tonics. Mum to the cutest twin boys in the world, she loves nothing more than the sound of their laughter (usually heard when they're conspiring against her). Entertainment writer and pop culture junkie, she will be bringing you all the celebrity gossip and news that your brain can handle. You can follow her blog at https://lovechrystal.com.au and on Instagram at Chrystalovevintage
