From the ’I dont think we could make this up if we tried’ department. Fred, feel free to delete as off-topic if needed.
A French court has ordered the removal of a stuffed toy called "Nazo le Skizo" from stores around the country because it is offensive then sad then happy then... to schizophrenics. The toy, a stuffed monkey with a big nose, goes through "three mood changes" in voice and character. Two organisations representing patients with mental health problems had filed a lawsuit against the company, a firm called Ouaps. A total of 18,000 of the 30 euro toys have already been manufactured, and are on sale in 500 stores. In addition to a ban on sale and further production of the toys, Ouaps was ordered to pay 1,500 euros in compensation to the two organisations, Unafam and FNAP-PSY. The company was also ordered to pay 750 euros to a third group, Ariane, and an individual who had asked to be affiliated to the lawsuit. Ouaps said it had not intended to cause offence, and said the toy’s name was derived from a monkey in one of the Tintin comic-strip albums. The packaging, however, described the monkey as "skizo [schizzo], like Yves Lecoq," a popular French mimic. |