Twitter was going crazy on Thursday when an Associated Press article (now updated) misinformed people that Hasbro would be removing the gender from their Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head toys. Instead they were only in fact removing the Mr. and Mrs. from the brand — not the toy.
The company, which has been making the potato-shaped plastic toy for nearly 70 years, announced Thursday that it was dropping Mr. from the brand in an effort to make sure “all feel welcome in the Potato Head world.” It also said it would sell a new playset this fall that will let kids create their own type of potato families, including two moms or two dads.
Mr. Potato Head first hit the toy scene in 1952, when it didn’t even come with a plastic potato — kids had to supply their own vegetable to poke eyes, a nose or mustache into. Hasbro, which also makes Monopoly and My Little Pony, bought the brand and eventually added a plastic spud.
The original 1950s Mr Potato Head had appendages with sharp steel spikes, and you stabbed them into actual f’ing potato or banana or whatever, in whatever messed-up array you wanted, and then you would skin and eat it afterwards. We were a harder people then pic.twitter.com/eg18pozecE
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) February 25, 2021
Later that afternoon, Hasbro clarified in a tweet that the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head characters will still exist, with their original names, but the branding on the box will instead say “Potato Head.” Even though they will still be sold as a Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head.
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
While the misinformed article was trending, Twitter users went on a Twitter-spree regarding the changes our spuddy friend.
“RIP, Mr. Potato Head,” one Twitter user said tweeting a video clip from a Toy Story film.
RIP, Mr. Potato Head. pic.twitter.com/n4MuyucLrG
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 25, 2021
‘The Cancelled Characters will now see you Mr. Potato Head.’
Our Cancelled Characters welcome a new hero today.
— Colton Duncan (@duncan_colton) February 25, 2021
Pour out some Syrup for Mr. Potato Head – he saved our lives, we are eternally grateful. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/pdgPstlw2C
Potato’s don’t have genitals.
To anyone pissed about Hasbro dropping the Mr. from Mr. Potato Head’s name, let me remind you that potatoes don’t have genitals and being outraged about a gender-neutral potato is creepy as hell.
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) February 25, 2021
Mr. Potato Head never really needed the “Mr,” not with that huge dong of his
— Matt Braunger (@Braunger) February 26, 2021
Some added some political humour to it.
I’m all for cancelling Mr Potato Head. pic.twitter.com/3lrYx3t7xt
— Sgt Leaf (@LeafandThistle) February 26, 2021
“AcTuAlLy It’S mR. GrAnDPaReNt PoTaTo HeAd.”
Grandpa Potato Head in his final moments as his grandkids shout “Actually it’s grandPARENT Potato Head 😤” knowing he’ll never have to deal with their shit anymore pic.twitter.com/7pgUABddDs
— Sierra (@LikeTheMountain) February 25, 2021
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