The children’s emporium Toys 'R Us is pulling a line of action figures based on characters from the ultra-violent cable series “Breaking Bad” after complaints that the toys glamorized the murderous drug trade featured on the show.
The figures included high-school chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin Walter White and his sidekick delinquent Jesse Pinkman. The dolls came with toy accessories that included a detachable bag of cash and a bag of methamphetamine.
In a statement that borrowed a line from the show, Toys 'R Us spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh told NBC News on Tuesday: "Let's just say, the action figures have taken an 'indefinite sabbatical.’”
Just a day earlier, the retailer had defended the toys, saying "the product packaging clearly notes that the items are intended for ages 15 and up" and "are located in the adult action figure area of our stores."
The backlash began when Susan Schrivjer, of Fort Myers, Florida, started a Change.org petition asking Toys 'R Us to stop selling the dolls. On Tuesday it had over 8,000 digital signatures.
On Monday, Bryan Cranston, the actor who plays White, responded to the controversy, tweeting, "I'm so mad. I am burning my Florida mom action figure in protest."
