Quentin Tarantino - Toy Makers Forced To Halt Production Of Controversial Django Unchained Action Figures

Toy Makers Forced To Halt Production Of Controversial Django Unchained Action Figures

The Weinstein Company, the movie production power house behind the latest Quentin Tarantino movie Django Unchained, have been forced to ask toy makers in charge of a line of action figures depicting characters from the film to cease production of the toys immediately following a huge backlash from potential customers.

Civil rights activists have been up in arms over the apparent trivialisation of slavery made by the film, and the production and sale of these dolls have proved to be the final straw with the film's opponents. The eight inch figurines were on sale on Amazon.com, depicting six of the film's central characters, including three who are slaves in the film: Stephen, Broomhilda and the titular Django. The Weinstein Company immediately had production of the dolls halted, with approximately 1,000 figures making their way off the production line.

According to TMZ, as soon as the torrent of disapproval began to come forth their way, with such notable civil rights groups as Al Sharpton's National Action Network and Project Islamic Hope speaking out against the dolls, the toy company was told to halt production of the figures, despite claiming that it never meant to cause offence. The Weinstein Company has yet to comment on the situation.

Mr Najee Ali of the Los Angeles based Project Islamic Hope, who also staged a protest of the film outside last weekend's Golden Globes ceremony, said, "Tarantino and Weinstein didn't have action figures for their movie Inglorious Basterds because they know the Jewish community would never allow it, and the African-American community shouldn't allow anyone to disrespect our ancestors."

A quick read through the Amazon reviews section of the toys also show similar dissatisfaction of the toy, which are no longer available, with such disparaging comments as: "Why? Really this is some racist s***! The movie was good, but this is inexcusable.  Do the accessories include whips, chains and klan members?" Whilst another said, "I am in complete shock that someone would exploit the struggle of my ancestors and the entire freedom movement with such tasteless, classless, and disgusting 'action figures'."

Django Unchained is in cinemas now.