eBay yesterday decided to ban the sale of the controversial dolls linked to Quentin Tarantino’s latest western movie about a freed slave, Django Unchained. It described the dolls as “offensive”, and the toymaker who manufactured the dolls had already discontinued them. 

Django Unchained won two Golden Globes earlier this month, and it has been nominated in five categories for the Oscars later in February, but the film has remained a talking point, not always for good reasons. 

The Weinstein Company, which produced the film, discontinued the promotional figurines after protests from several African-American advocacy groups. This prompted the dolls to surface on eBay as “rare” collectibles, and their prices rose sharply. 

eBay spokesperson, Kari Ramirez, told AFP: 

These were removed as they were in violation of our Offensive Materials policy. 

Continued the AFP: 

The eBay policy includes a section listing “racially or ethnically offensive language, historical items, reproductions and works of art and media” which are subject to restricted use or banning from the site. 

The banned list notably includes “items marketed inappropriately with an intolerant regard toward religion, sexual orientation, race, or ethnic background. 

2oceansvibe Media understands the dolls will now be available on the black market.

[Source: AFP]