A South Carolina mother is suing toy maker Mattel after it mistakenly linked to a porn website on packaging for dolls tied to the blockbuster movie Wicked.

In a proposed class action filed on Tuesday (local time) in Los Angeles, Holly Ricketson said she bought a Wicked Glinda doll for her daughter, who then visited an adult entertainment website through the link provided by the toymaker.

“After opening the box that contained the Wicked doll, plaintiff’s minor daughter used an iPhone to visit the website shown on defendant’s packaging,” the complaint alleges.

“To her absolute shock the website, Wicked.com, had nothing to do with the Wicked doll. Rather, Wicked.com pasted scenes of pornographic advertisements across her phone screen.

“These scenes were hardcore, full-on nude pornographic images depicting actual intercourse.”

Ricketson said her daughter showed her hardcore photographs from the website. Both were “horrified” by what they saw, suffering emotional distress.

“Plaintiff’s minor daughter immediately showed her mother the photographs and both were horrified by what they saw,” the suit reads.

“If plaintiff had been aware of such an inappropriate defect in the product, she would not have purchased it.”

Ricketson also said Mattel had not offered refunds despite recalling the dolls on November 11.

The official Mattel Wicked dolls link to a porn site on the box 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/iW4mNVAlPE

— just2good (Sarah Genao) (@just2goodYT) November 9, 2024

At the time, the company said it was aware of the misprint, and that it “deeply regreted this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this”.

Mattel declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said in a statement that sales of Wicked dolls with correct packaging had resumed in stores and online. It has expressed regret for the error.

The California-based toymaker had intended to link purchasers to the WickedMovie.com website, not to a similarly named website for people at least 18 years old. The blunder emerged last month, as the movie starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo was released.

Clicking on the errant link brought up a page requiring users to be 18 and older. Those who continue landed on a site promoting an upcoming porn movie called Kenzie Loves Girls 2.

Mattel recommends the dolls for children aged four and up.

Tuesday’s lawsuit seeks at least $US5 million ($A7.7 million) of damages for anyone in the USs who bought Wicked dolls whose packaging included the errant link.

It accuses Mattel of negligence, selling products unfit for sale, and violating California consumer protection laws.

Other products from Mattel include Barbie and Hot Wheels.

Wicked has already grossed $US263.2 million ($A405.9 million) in the US and $US360.3 million ($A555.7 million) worldwide since its November 22 release, according to Box Office Mojo.

Universal Pictures, the distributor of Wicked, is not named in the in the lawsuit, nor is anyone connected with the film.

-AAP