Answer the question – the Eminem doll
Not content with causing controversy in the flesh, some toy retailers are considering banning rap artist Eminem's doll which comes complete with a chainsaw. Are they right?
| How can they sell an album that is homophobic, violent and sexist, but not sell a harmless plastic doll? |
Eminem's doll is harmless. No one wants to ban Action Man and he is quite violent. It's really is up to the parents to decide whether they will buy their child a toy like that. Shops don't ban toy guns so why do they want to ban a doll with a chainsaw? It is probably because of all the hype around him why they want to ban the doll. Why don't people just leave him alone?
Danyel Edwards, 14
The thought of stores like Woolworths even contemplating not selling Eminem's doll truly baffles me. How can they sell an album (to all ages) that is homophobic, violent and sexist, but not sell a harmless plastic doll that is bound to be as big a hit as his controversial album? It doesn't make sense. Parents should decide whether to buy it or not, not some executive at Woolworths. Bedsides, it's too late: some minds have already been corrupted.
Della Hicks-Wilson, 15
I completely agree with the proposed banning of Eminem's doll. When we think of childhood, we imagine all things innocent and harmless, but we never imagine them to be brandishing chainsaws. What are toy-makers going to do next, create bombs and knives as accessories? They seem to be creating new ways to taint and destroy childhood. Shouldn't we be attempting to protect children from as many dangers as possible? We encourage them to play and use their imaginations, but when we add a chainsaw to a doll, what is left for the child to imagine?
Camille Noriega, 16
Eminem's doll shouldn't be banned. Action Man is just as bad with all his lasers and guns. On the adverts for Action Man they show him shooting people who are his enemies, not even Eminem does this. It doesn't make sense to me at all. For example, no one has complained about Britney Spear's doll. The doll just looks silly, after all they've made lots of famous people into dolls like Hear'Say and Britney Spears. The dolls don't look the same as the actual people. Dolls are just for fun really.
Cindy Crome, 11
The doll shouldn't be banned, it is only a doll, what harm can it do? Maybe only people over 12 years old should be able to buy the doll. It's the same as the Hear'Say dolls, but it has a chainsaw, a mask and 'cut here' tattooed on its neck. I know a lot of people who would go out and buy the doll. They would only see it as fun. Personally I think people take him too seriously. He is only here because he loves music. Like he said, people who believe his lyrics are 10 times more stupid than him.
Benjamina Avro-Owiiriwa, 13
About the team
The Answer the question panel are members of Children's Express London bureau. This column was published as part of Teen Talk, the Children's Express page in New Nation.
