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May 24, 2006
Contact: Josh
Golin (617.278.4172;
jgolin@jbcc.harvard.edu)
CCFC Commends Hasbro for Shelving
Pussycat Dolls
After a
grassroots campaign
initiated by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC)
and Dads and Daughters (DADs), Hasbro announced today that they
were cancelling their planned line of dolls based on the
Pussycat Dolls, a real-life burlesque troupe turned music group
famous for their sexualized lyrics and dance routines. On
Monday, CCFC and DADs launched a
letter-writing campaign
urging the toy giant to reverse its plan to market the blatantly
eroticized dolls to girls as young as six. Today, the efforts
of parents around the country were rewarded when Hasbro issued
the following statement:
“Hasbro and Interscope have jointly agreed that Hasbro will not
move forward with the line of dolls based on the recording
group, The Pussycat Dolls. Interscope’s current creative
direction and images for the recording group are focused on a
much older target than we had anticipated at the time of our
original discussions, thereby making a doll line inappropriate
for Hasbro.” (Note: Interscope is the record label that created
and manages the Pussycat Dolls group.)
"We’re thrilled that Hasbro responded to the concerns expressed
by the many people who participated in our letter-writing
campaign, and that they are putting the well-being of children
above their bottom line,” said Dr. Susan Linn, CCFC’s
co-founder, “Hasbro’s decision underscores the importance of
working together to stop the commercial exploitation of
children."
Lisa Flythe, a CCFC member who had written to Hasbro and first
alerted CCFC about the dolls, was gratified by Hasbro’s
decision: “As a parent of a four-year-old girl, I’m grateful
that Hasbro has decided not to join with other toy, media and
marketing companies in escalating the sexualization of little
girls. I hope that other companies will follow their example.”
Dads & Daughters President Joe Kelly called Hasbro’s decision a
victory for families and responsible corporate practice. “We
asked Hasbro executives to imagine encouraging their own
six-year-old daughters and granddaughters to engage in
developmentally unhealthy behavior. It appears that they did
that, and then made the right decision for their families, our
families, and the company.”
If you wish to thank Hasbro, letters should be sent to:
Alfred J. Verrecchia
President and CEO
Hasbro Inc.
1027 Newport Ave
Pawtucket, RI 02862
or faxed to 401-727-5544
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