New American Doll Has Same Name as Arsonist
Categories: In The News, Weird But True
Rebecca Rubin -- new American Girl doll -- shares her name with an arsonist. Image: store.americangirl.com
Rebecca J. Rubin, however, is a real-life arsonist, indicted in a series of Oregon fires as far back as 2006. She's wanted by the FBI and is considered armed and dangerous. How did America's latest sweetheart end up with the same name as one of America's most wanted? It's all about timing.
American Girl, says spokeswoman Julie Parks, registered the name in 2004 -- two years before Rebecca J. Rubin started her crime spree. "Rebecca was one of the most popular names for Jewish girls in 1905, when Rebecca would have been born," Parks tells the New York Times, "When researching last names, Rubin was on a list of a handful of other names that would have been appropriate for a Russian-Jewish family but, honestly, Rubin rose to the top because we liked the alliteration and knew that girls could easily pronounce it."
Dangerous Toys
The New Easy Bake Oven
New, and unfortunately not-so-improved, the oven caused 77 burns, 16 of them second or third-degree, and one that resulted in a partial finger amputation.
CPSC
Aquadots
When you add water to these little plastic balls, the coating produces effects similar to GHB -- the date rape drug. Pleasant. Thankfully they were recalled.
Aquadots
Lead paint
Speaking of things you shouldn't put in your mouth, how about any toy from China? Hundreds have been recalled thanks to the high levels of lead in the paint used to coat these toys
sensoryedge.com
Magnetic toys
Particularly magnets that are small enough to swallow. When positive and negative magnets are floating around your digestive tract, they're drawn to one another, which can do some serious, life-threatening damage.
amazon.com
Snack time Cabbage Patch
This little doll was so hungry, it had a habit of chewing little kids' fingers, hair, and whatever else was unfortunate enough to get stuck in its mouth. It was quickly recalled.
strawberrybonkers.com
Mini-hammock
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission: "the mini-hammock can twist around a child's neck as he/she is getting into or out of the mini-hammock, resulting in strangulation and death." All 3 million were recalled.
CPSC
Lawn Darts
These have been banned for years in the US, as they had a tendency to wind up stuck in kids, not the ground.
gardengames.co.uk
Johnny Reb Cannon
This bad boy fired plastic cannon balls up to 35 feet. Even a pellet gun would be less dangerous -- at least you can aim a gun.
Johnny Reb Cannon
Atomic Energy Lab
Good thing this atomic energy set only came with "very low-level" radioactive sources, because that's not dangerous. Oh wait -- yes, yes it is.
americanmemorabilia.com
Water Yo-Yo Balls
Speaking of getting strangled to death, these yo-yo balls came under scrutiny after the stringy cord got wrapped around children's necks. They've been banned in Illinois, but have yet to be recalled by the CPSC.
sz-wholesale.com
Though American Girl dolls and arsonists have little in common, Mattel -- who owns the brand -- isn't worried that the names will cause parents any concern. "We feel confident that people will clearly see this as nothing more than what it is - an unrelated coincidence," says Parks. And at the same time, the FBI is hoping that the media coverage will help them find the real Rebecca Rubin.
So let's recap: Rebecca Rubin the doll: Cute, educational, moderately expensive doll. Rebecca Rubin the fugitive: Wanted criminal, burns things. It's a shame, I think, that this small controversy is getting more press than the doll herself, but on the other hand, can you imagine if you were the real Rebecca Rubin -- managing to escape your crimes until someone accidentally named a doll after you? Now that's an interesting story.
What about you -- would the name snafu affect your decision to buy the Rebecca Rubin American girl doll?
Recent Posts
- G.I. Joe, My Little Pony Invading TV With New Children's Network (2/09/2010)
- Movies May Influence Children's Food Choices, Study Shows (2/09/2010)
- Report Cites 220 Cases of D.C. Teachers Abusing Students (2/09/2010)
- Chicago Candidate Drops Out of Race With Tearful Child On Display (2/09/2010)
- Juicy, But Not Juice (2/09/2010)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Amie 6-01-2009 @ 9:39PM
I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this doll because of the name. Too many people share the same name (some famous or infamous) in the world, so to exclude a doll because of the name is irrevelant.
Reply
Leslie 6-01-2009 @ 10:56PM
There are probably thousands of women named Rebecca Rubin all over the US. I think it's ridiculous for anyone to care. I highly doubt that most people thinking of buying the doll have ever heard of Rebecca Rubin the arsonist. It's not like American Girl named the doll Charles Manson!
Reply
Mindy Walbesser 6-01-2009 @ 11:10PM
I'd never heard of the arsonist named Rebecca Rubin until this story. I am planning on buying the doll. I am friends with a Rubin family. The name to me only reminds me of the Rubin family I know. I'm sure most people feel that way.
Reply
Beatrice 6-02-2009 @ 12:25AM
i am apalled.
this is outrageous.
i would never purchase a doll with such a name for MY children.
it's like naming the next one oleander joanne simpson
and calling her by her intials as a cute nickname.
aghast.
Reply
Suzanna 6-02-2009 @ 1:08AM
Beatrice, for the sake of the rest of normal humanity, take a Valium, or maybe even a handful. Then get a flippin clue.
jaMAESLTHUMPER 6-02-2009 @ 1:38AM
Oh, you must Beatrice the antisemite,right?
g 6-02-2009 @ 7:51AM
never heard of the arsonist til this article.. makes me want one of the tacky dolls lol
a bit of controversy.... for the kiddies... wonder if she comes with teeny matches?
Reply
Greta 6-02-2009 @ 8:54AM
Akkronym - the term snafu has been around since at least WWII, and it's been a term for the general public for that long, regardless of the military origins. So the media hasn't all of a sudden started using it - they've been using it for decades. And it can be cleaned up to mean "all fouled up" instead of the other f-word, so there's really nothing all that scandalous about it. I think there was even a game called Snafu when I was a kid in the 80s.
Reply
Anna Polozzo 6-05-2009 @ 12:00PM
I doubt my 6 year old will notice. I'm fairly sure she will want it anyway. These dolls are wonderful. Truly old fashioned toys that inspire young girls to read and play imaginatively. They don't make noise but require thought and action to make them fun.
Reply