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Malia and Sasha Beanie Babies Renamed Mariah and Sydney
Filed under: Celeb Kids, Celeb Parents
Beanie Baby manufacturer Ty Inc. learned this week that when you try to capitalize on the fame of new, adorable First Kids, you better check with the First Mama beforehand.
Shortly after President Barack Obama's inauguration, Ty released two new Beanie Baby TyGirlz dolls -- Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia. According to Ty, the naming of the dolls was sheer coincidence, as was the timing of their release. But while little girls and collectors may have been snatching up the dolls, the Obamas weren't buying Ty's story.
"We feel it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes," Obama's press secretary said over the weekend. Translation? Leave our daughters alone.
Ty Inc. has (wisely) deferred to the Obama's, and the dolls have been renamed "Marvelous Mariah" and "Sweet Sydney." The company will also donate all proceeds from previous sales of the dolls to charity.
It's hard not to respect the hard line Michelle Obama takes with her girls and her attempts to keep their lives normal. Considering the frenzy surrounding the family, Malia and Sasha could easily be commercialized like any other celebrity kid -- think Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
Speaking of the Jonas Brothers -- there'll be no more late night surprise visits from the girls' favorite boy band. Mrs. O has put a stop to all the celebrity hobnobbing now that the inauguration festivities have come to an end. Instead, the girls are focusing on school, chores, and of course, playdates. "Michelle is spending a lot of time talking to the girls about the new school and she's reached out to fellow parents at Sidwell," says a family friend.
Malia and Sasha may not appreciate the tight boundaries their parents are putting on and around them now, but the well-adjusted adults they're sure to become will.
Put yourself in the Obama's shoes: Would you have let the Beanie Baby dolls be released? Or would you have insisted, like Michelle Obama did, that the dolls were inappropriate?
Shortly after President Barack Obama's inauguration, Ty released two new Beanie Baby TyGirlz dolls -- Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia. According to Ty, the naming of the dolls was sheer coincidence, as was the timing of their release. But while little girls and collectors may have been snatching up the dolls, the Obamas weren't buying Ty's story.
"We feel it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes," Obama's press secretary said over the weekend. Translation? Leave our daughters alone.
Sasha and Malia Obama
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Malia and Sasha's Excellent Adventure
Malia, 10 (right) and Sasha, 7, wave to the crowd at the 2008 election night rally in Chicago. Politics are child's play to these sweethearts, and we can't wait to see them come into their own.
Jae C. Hong, AP
Sasha and Malia, kissing her mother Michelle, get ready for the first day of school in Washington, DC, as President-elect looks on. The Obama family are staying at the Hay Adams Hotel prior to their move into the White House.
Callie Shell, HO / Change.gov
US President-elect Barack Obama orders shave ice treats with his daughter Malia and Sasha during an afternoon outing in December 2008 in Hawai'i Kai, HI.
Tim Sloan, AFP / Getty Images
The girls kept it casual on their Hawaiian vacation, enjoying days at the beach with friends and shaved ice treats and a dolphin show with their dad.
Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images
Malia gives Barack Obama a big hug -- followed by one from Sasha -- at the Honolulu Zoo on December 30, 2008.
Tim Sloan, AFP / Getty Images
Sasha (left) and Malia Obama stayed in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2008, squeezing in some volunteer work with their dad at a food bank at St. Columbanus Parish and School. The President-elect said he wants the girls "to learn the importance of how fortunate they are, and to make sure they're giving back."
Jim Watson, AFP / Getty Images
Sasha and Malia walk to school in Chicago after their father dropped them off in November 2008. Sasha takes gymnastics and tap classes while it's soccer, dance, drama and (by the looks of the case) flute for Malia.
Charles Dharapak, AP
The Obama family wave during a rally at the Ohio State House in Columbus, OH, two days prior to Barack's historic election to the White House.
Getty Images
The Obama clan leave a restaurant in Chicago in August 2008. We know where the President-elect stands on taxes and bailouts, but about comfort food vs cuisine?
Emmanuel Dunand, AFP / Getty Images
Ty Inc. has (wisely) deferred to the Obama's, and the dolls have been renamed "Marvelous Mariah" and "Sweet Sydney." The company will also donate all proceeds from previous sales of the dolls to charity.
It's hard not to respect the hard line Michelle Obama takes with her girls and her attempts to keep their lives normal. Considering the frenzy surrounding the family, Malia and Sasha could easily be commercialized like any other celebrity kid -- think Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
Speaking of the Jonas Brothers -- there'll be no more late night surprise visits from the girls' favorite boy band. Mrs. O has put a stop to all the celebrity hobnobbing now that the inauguration festivities have come to an end. Instead, the girls are focusing on school, chores, and of course, playdates. "Michelle is spending a lot of time talking to the girls about the new school and she's reached out to fellow parents at Sidwell," says a family friend.
Malia and Sasha may not appreciate the tight boundaries their parents are putting on and around them now, but the well-adjusted adults they're sure to become will.
Put yourself in the Obama's shoes: Would you have let the Beanie Baby dolls be released? Or would you have insisted, like Michelle Obama did, that the dolls were inappropriate?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-03-2009 @ 6:02PM
Jenni said...I think what she did was send a very clear and appropriate message to ALL companies, "Our children are not up for marketing."
I think it's great. I don't think anyone bought Ty's story; and I'm glad they got called out on it. The next company will think twice, that's for sure.
Reply
2-04-2009 @ 12:13AM
Akela said...I don't think she should have commented, in Hawaii many little girls are named Malia, means Mary. She doesn't own the name exclusively. and what makes her think its all about her anyway..
Reply
2-04-2009 @ 6:55PM
annie kowles said...This makes me SO disappointed that this company caved in to the Obama's and changed the names. Then to bow down to them by donating all the proceeds to charity like they have done something that required a punishment, just makes me want to hurl. How dare people take something so miniscule like this and let the Obama's call all the shots, when there was nothing insulting one bit about the dolls!!! Exploiting? Please explain how. I would love to see the media and other hateful people act to the Obama's like they did to Palin and her whole family!! Now, THERE'S something to rightfully get a Mom's tail in a knot. I can just imagine if they said the two O. girls were illegitimate, ugly, that Michele is ugly and dresses strange, that the family is arrogant, and just on and on, how M.O. would have just gone ape. This about the dolls in not in that category by a million miles. She was just on a power trip, trying to call all the shots, and I guess the company was afraid of the publicity from the ones who said the poor little girls were being "exploited." Oh please....give M.O. something to really legitimately bitch about.
Reply
2-04-2009 @ 3:06PM
maxine said...oh for crying out loud! just by being in politics you have negated any privacy these days! that is such a stupid thing to gripe about--it was a total compliment to name them that! it shows how they live a double standard--privacy when they want it, and notoriety when it suits them--yuk!! Ty Company: stand up for your rights, no one has a copyright on a name!!
2-22-2009 @ 8:25PM
Sherry said...Public service has no privacy. If a company wants to produce a product around the first family, there should be no problem.. it helps the economy! I agree too that those names are not owned by the first Family-but the outcomes of the name change and the future retirement of these dolls as well as the proceeds going to charity is what Ty deserves because if anything they should admit that the naming of these dolls and release date WAS NOT a coincidence.
Reply