A Florida mom had inspired more than 3,400 signatures on her change.org campaign to get Toys “R” Us to drop “Breaking Bad” crystal meth dealer action figures by Monday night, but failed to convince the store — or the star of the series — that the toys should be scrapped.
While the show “may be compelling viewing for adults, its violent content and celebration of the drug trade make this collection unsuitable to be sold alongside Barbie dolls and Disney characters,” reasoned petition organizer Susan Myers.
Shoppers should not have to explain to children “why a certain toy comes with a bag of highly dangerous and illegal drugs or why someone who sells those drugs deserves to be made into an action figure,” Myers wrote.
“‘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,” the star of the popular AMC series, Bryan Cranston, tweeted yesterday.
“We carry a variety of fictional character action figures, including those for our collector customers. The products you reference are carried in very limited quantities in the adult action figure area of our stores,” a spokeswoman for Toys “R” Us said via email.
Mezco, manufacturer of the dolls, as well as “Breaking Bad plush” toys — which presumably comfort fans left bereft after the compelling series ended Sept. 29 — had no comment. A man answering the phone at the company said he had no idea whether Myers’ campaign had hindered or helped sales of “Breaking Bad” dolls.
