In an effort to remain inclusive to the modern consumer, Hasbro is making some changes to the Mr. Potato Head brand.
What We Know:
- On Thursday, Hasbro announced that the decorative plastic potato is moving from Mr. Potato Head to a gender-neutral Potato Head.
“Hasbro is making sure all feel welcome in the Potato Head world by officially dropping the Mr. from the Mr. Potato Head brand name and logo to promote gender equality and inclusion,” the company wrote.
- According to CNN, the announcement left fans of the 1950s toy were left feeling a little confused about whether the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head toys would still be around. “Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD,” Hasbro tweeted.
Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD pic.twitter.com/6I84KrxOLQ
— Hasbro (@Hasbro) February 25, 2021
- Instead, the upcoming playsets will not feature specific gender designations to allow children to make their potato families how they see fit. By creating endless possibilities, kids are able to break traditional norms and create potato families with two moms, two dads, or neither depending on how they mix and mash their pieces.
- In a statement from LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, chief communications officer Rich Ferraro said, “By offering a toy that exists outside of the binary of male and female, Hasbro is helping kids to simply see toys as toys, which encourages them to be their authentic selves outside of the pressures of traditional gender norms.”
The rebranded gender-neutral line will be launching next fall.
