Producers stop slavery action-figures’ production

|      Eric Kelsey & Alex Dobuzinskis      |

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The producers of Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” on Friday ordered a halt to the production of action figures based on the Oscar-nominated slavery movie after criticism that they were offensive to African-Americans.

Community activist Najee Ali holds an action figure depicting Calvin Candie, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character from the Quentin Tarantino film “Django Unchained” during a news conference on Jan 8. The Weinstein Co, which produced “Django Unchained” said in a statement on Friday that in light of the reaction to the dolls it had ordered production to stop. AP

The eight-inch (20-cm) dolls, which were intended for people 17 and older, included gun-slinging freed slave Django, his wife and cruel, white plantation owner Candie.

“Django Unchained” has been attacked by some African-Americans for its portrayal of slavery and its violence. Despite the controversy, the film was nominated for five Oscars, including best picture.

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton’s National Action Network was among the groups that criticised the action figures.

“Selling this doll is highly offensive to our ancestors and the African-American community,” KW Tulloss, president of the Los Angeles branch of National Action Network, told the New York Daily News.

“The movie is for adults, but these are action figures that appeal to children,” Tulloss told the paper. “We don’t want other individuals to utilise them for their entertainment, to make a mockery of slavery.”

The Weinstein Co, which produced “Django Unchained” said in a statement on Friday that in light of the reaction to the dolls it had ordered production to stop.