Barbie's pregnant pal gives birth to uproar

By Tanya Bricking
Advertiser Staff Writer

Midge, a friend of Barbie, is sold separately from her husband and son. Associated Press

The controversy erupted on the Mainland just before Christmas, and although the doll made it to Hawai'i for holiday sales, she was pulled from shelves at local Wal-Mart stores because of a storewide internal recall.

"We don't like to sell stuff that would upset people," said Seni Kaseli, assistant manager at the Mililani Wal-Mart.

The redheaded doll, Barbie's friend since 1963, now wears a wedding ring that doesn't come off and is by all accounts happily married. (Her husband and 3-year-old son are sold separately.)

But Midge, whose bulging belly and loose-fitting clothes give away that she's in the family way, was a little too real for some Wal-Mart customers, who complained that she promotes teenage pregnancy and makes it seem as though a daddy is optional.

From its magazine selection to its toys, Wal-Mart opts to be conservative, Kaseli said.

Until the flap, "Happy Family" pregnant Midge, which magically pops out a curled-up baby when her detachable magnetic belly is opened, wasn't all that popular. Local Kmarts didn't even stock her. But the attention she's getting now could be making Midge the underrated toy of 2002.

At the Moanalua Road Toys 'R' Us, pregnant Midge was a sellout before Christmas, but store manager James O'Brien said he doesn't expect another shipment anytime soon.

People are asking about Midge, though, he said, thinking she might become a collector's item.

She's already hit the auction block on eBay, the Internet version of a yard sale, where the asking price is as high as $150.

KB Toys in Pearlridge has Midge's husband, Alan, and son, Ryan, in stock, but Midge and the baby ($21.99) are sold out.

Toymaker Mattel says pregnant Midge can be a teaching aid for children and families anticipating the arrival of a baby.

Mattel says the Midge dolls should still be available in Hawai'i, but some stores will begin carrying a Midge packaged with the baby instead of the pregnant version.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Reach Tanya Bricking at tbricking@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8026.