Druggie Breaking Bad dolls pulled

23 October 2014 - 02:29 By ©The Daily Telegraph
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US toy shop Toys "R" Us appears to have quietly withdrawn a range of drug dealer dolls based on the television series Breaking Bad after criticism from parents.

Though a spokesman for the retail giant had defended the collection as recently as yesterday, the models are no longer available online. The range includes an action figure clutching a bag of cash and crystal meth.

An online search for the dolls, which were selling for $17.99 (about R200), was met with the response: "Your search for 'breaking bad action figure' returned 0 results."

A day earlier the page had displayed two figures in Hazmat protective suits, and one model clutching a gun, money and drugs.

Breaking Bad is based on the character of high school chemistry teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who starts selling crystal meth in order to make money for his family before he dies from terminal cancer.

Cranston himself had tweeted a riposte to the petition, organised by mother Susan Schrivjer, from Fort Myers, Florida.

The petition on the website Change.org, called "Remove Breaking Bad dolls from their shelves", had more than 7200 signatures yesterday.

Toys "R" Us did not comment to The Telegraph. A spokesman told NBC News earlier in the week: "The product packaging clearly notes that the items are intended for ages 15 and up. The toys are located in the adult action figure area of our stores."

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