A mother has succeeded in getting a children’s toy removed from Walmart, after revealing that it played a number of inappropriate jokes, with the topics including Catholic priests ‘screwing’ and drive-by shootings.
Ashley Lynn, who uses the handle @mommabearash on TikTok, explains in a video that her grandmother got the toy – labeled as ‘educational’ – from Walmart for her nine-month-old son for Christmas.
However, when the baby started ‘going to town on it’ and pressing the buttons, Ashley’s mom noticed it saying something about drive-by shootings.
Recalling her reaction when she heard the reference to shooting, Ashley said: ‘I’m like, there’s no way. What, what! A kids’ toy… There’s a baby on the box. Sold at Walmart. Walmart, explain this! Linsay toys (the Florida-based toymaker) explain this! Blow this up! Do I have a lawsuit? Lawyers help me out!’
In the clip, which has since been viewed more than 14 million times, Ashely reveals some of the shocking jokes the ‘Electronic Educational Toy’ plays.
A mother has succeeded in getting a children’s toy removed from Walmart, after revealing that it played a number of inappropriate jokes. She voiced her outrage on TikTok
LEFT: In a follow-up video, Ashley shows viewers the original packaging the toy came in to prove that it is real. RIGHT: How the now-discontinued toy appeared on the Lowes website
As she presses a button, the toy responds: ‘How many Catholic priests are required to screw a lightbulb into its socket? Two, one to do the screwing and one to hear the confession.’
The next joke then plays out: ‘You’ll never guess what makes a clip clop, clip clop, bang bang, clip clop, clip clop, bang bang? An Amish drive by shooting.’
While Ashley was shocked by these jokes programed into the toy, she said the one that upset her most was one regarding Santa Claus.
After pressing a number of buttons on the toy she finds the joke she was after. The gadget says: ‘The Easter bunny, an honest lawyer, Santa Claus and a drunk find a $50 bill together.
‘Can you guess you gets to keep it? Of course it’s the drunk because the other three don’t exist.’
Ashley explains in the clip: ‘[This joke] got me actually upset because it’s Christmas and its saying Santa, the Easter bunny don’t exist.’
The mother-of-three highlights that her grandmother was unable to test the toy before purchasing it as it didn’t come supplied with batteries.
Since the TikToker posted her initial clip, thousands of viewers have thanked her for the warning and agreed with her sentiments.
Sabrina Addison wrote: ‘I actually got this for my niece. I am glad I seen this before I gave her the present… now I got a buy something else… this is crazy.’
And another commenter, @Kenz, said: ‘Regardless of where it’s sold, it should’ve gone through testing. And if it did and it passed, the person who passed it should be fired.’
Some viewers said they didn’t believe Ashley. However, @Foxtato said that after she researched the toy online, she found a slew of negative reviews ‘stating the same issue going a year back’.
In a follow-up video, Ashley shows viewers the original packaging the toy came in to prove that it is real and marketed for children.
Since the TikToker posted her initial clip, thousands of viewers have thanked her for the warning and agreed with her sentiments
There is a photo of a baby on the front implying it is suitable for infants although it is labeled for ages three and up because the batteries could present themselves as a joking hazard.
One panel on the box says the jokes are intended to be ‘interesting’ stories’ to ‘help the baby to learn cultural knowledge in play’.
While she mentioned filing for a lawsuit in her first video, Ashley says in her follow-up that she can’t afford to take the company to court.
She tells viewers: ‘I’ve never sued anyone in my life. I work, my husband works we have three children under our roof. Am I looking to get rich off of this and make a huge thing? No. Am I mad? Yeah, absolutely that my kid has this.’
Instead of going down the legal route, Ashley registered a complaint with Walmart.
In a third clip on the matter titled ‘update’ she reveals that the retailer got back to her in a ‘very timely manner and responded that they would open an investigation’.
Regardless of where it’s sold, it should’ve gone through testing. And if it did and it passed, the person who passed it should be fired
They also promised her that the toy would stop being sold at all Walmart stores and online.
After checking for herself, Ashley discovered that the toy had indeed disappeared from the Walmart site and it is also no longer available at Lowes, Macy’s, Office Depot and the Military Depot.
Some TikTok commenters said that they wanted to get their hands on one because they found the jokes funny and it would make a better gift for one of their adult friends.
Creator @johnnyslad quipped: ‘I gotta [sic] get me one of those just for the novelty before they are taken off the shelf.’
While @Mavis mused: ‘Honestly just advertise them for adults (or teenagers) not kids.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Walmart and the toymaker Linsay for comment.
If you enjoyed reading this article…
Therapist reveals her number one parenting tip inspired by dogs – but you have to start young and quit once they become teens
Now Mrs Hinch is expanding into CHILDREN’s books: Cleaning sensation unveils her latest business venture based on her family moving to their £1 million pad
I’ve already bought and wrapped my presents for Christmas 2023 – I have 16 grandchildren so I like to be organised
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk