Costco Pulls "Lil Monkey" Black Doll with Pet Monkey from Shelves After Accusations of Racism

I would love to know why Costco thought they could sell a black doll with a pet monkey without sparking some controversy. The wholesale giant had to pull thousands of its "Cuddle with Me" baby dolls from its shelves because some parents thought the doll and pet monkey were a bit racist. Equally offensive is the fact that the cap on the baby's head read "Lil Monkey." According to Costco's website you can buy a black, Hispanic or Caucasian "Cuddle with Me" doll with a Panda bear. A panda? Wow. I'll won't touch that. It is amazing that the buyer at Costco responsible for this deal didn't have the foresight to realize that these dolls could be considered offensive and racist.

Brass Key, the manufacturer of the toy, has apologized for the misunderstanding, saying the offensive meaning was not within their company's "realm of thinking." Geez, who would be offended by a black doll with a cap that reads "Lil Monkey" and snuggling with a pet monkey of its own? Many African Americans are very sensitive about the monkey issue because the racist theory that has been floating around for eons is that "blacks descended from apes" and that has been the cornerstone of a lot of crude jokes throughout the years, most recently during the presidential campaign when then candidate Barack Obama was portrayed as such.

Mary Gustaff, CEO of Brasskey Keepsakes, said the company not only apologized for the mistake, but that the thought of the doll being un-PC never occurred to them.

"It's so unfortunate because now it's being portrayed as a purposeful act to be disrespectful and that's not true. We really apologize. We don't think in that way. We don't operate in that kind of thinking. We have a really diverse family-operated company that's been around for 28 years. What would we have to gain for heaven's sake?"