Controverisal action figures depicting the main characters from Quentin Tarantino‘s Django Unchained have been pulled from retailers following public outcry. Critics accused the figurines, which depict slaves and slave owners from the film set in the antebellum South, of being massively inappropriate.

The Weinstein Company, which released the film, issued this statement announcing the withdrawal of the dolls for sale:

“In light of the reaction to the Django Unchained action figures we are removing them from distribution. We have tremendous respect for the audience and it was never our intent to offend anyone. Action figures have been created for all of Quentin’s films, including Inglourious Basterds, and as a matter of course [were] produced for Django Unchained as well. They were meant to be collectibles for people 17 years and older, which is the audience for the film.”

Dr. Jay’s Andreas Hale earlier reported on the outcry that accompanied the figurine’s release. Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope, called them”a slap in the face of our ancestors.” Rev. Al Sharpton joined in calls for a boycott.

The movie had already faced its fair share of racially-tinged controversy. Director Spike Lee, who has criticized Tarantino for his use of the N-word in the past, said he would not see the film due to its Spaghetti Western-style depiction of slavery.

What do you think? Should the figurines have been pulled?

[via The Guardian]

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