Potato Head Brand Considers Gender-Inclusive Change

Hasbro is considering dropping the “Mr.” from its iconic potato head play sets in order to become more gender inclusive. While this caused initial confusion, Hasbro clarified that there will still be both “Mr.” and Mrs.” Potato Head play sets, but they are changing the branding of the play sets in order to be inclusive and make everyone feel “welcome in the Potato Head world.”

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

Hasbro also announced they would begin selling play sets this fall that would allow children to create their own potato head families, with the ability to create two “Mrs.” or “Mr.” Potato Heads.

“Culture has evolved,” Kimberly Boyd, GM at Hasbro who works on the Potato Head brand, said to Fast Company. “Kids want to be able to represent their own experiences. The way the brand currently exist—with the ’Mr.’ and ’Mrs.’—is limiting when it comes to both gender identity and family structure.”

The move prompted praise from those in the LGBTQ community for widening the scope of what children’s toys present as normal.

“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,” said Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s chief communications officer, in a statement.

The toy was initially introduced in 1952, and only included the plastic accessories, kids were to supply their own spud to stick the features onto. Eventually, Hasbro began including the plastic potato with inserts for the accessories. The brand has remained popular, with the character Mr. Potato Head appearing in the Toy Story movies.

This comes at a time where legacy toys brands are adapting their lines to become more inclusive. Thomas the Tank engine has added more female characters, Barbie has expanded their lines to include more skin tone and hair colors, and in 2019 Mattel introduced a gender-neutral doll.

Image Courtesy of Hasbro via Twitter