Walmart removes children’s toys that swear and sing in Polish about making cocaine from its website

TORONTO – An Ontario grandmother buying an educational toy for her 15-month-old niece was shocked when the dancing cactus started swearing and singing about cocaine making.

Ania Tanner told CTV News Toronto: “This toy uses swear words and talks about cocaine use. “This is not what I ordered for my niece.”

The cactus was sold on Walmart’s website as an educational toy for about $26 and sang songs in English, Spanish, and Polish.

But Tanner, who is Polish, said when she heard the Polish lyrics, the cactus was singing about cocaine making, drug abuse, suicide, depression and the use of profanity.

“It really happened when I was Polish and when I started listening to songs and I heard those words,” she said. “I was shocked. What kind of joke do I think this is?”

The song is by Polish rapper Cypis, who is said to have been unaware his song was being used by a Chinese children’s toy manufacturer.

“It’s about taking 5 grams of cocaine and being alone… It’s a very sad song,” said Tanner

This singing cactus toy was also sold in Europe through Amazon, and in July 2021, other families also noticed and complained about the lyrics that many felt didn’t fit the toy. children play.

The Polish artist said he planned to sue the Chinese company for using his song without permission.

CTV News Toronto was unable to reach Cypis or the producer for comment.

Tanner said she feels Walmart shouldn’t be selling the toy and wants a refund.

Walmart told CTV News Toronto that it takes this customer complaint very seriously.

A Walmart spokesperson told CTV News Toronto: “These items are sold by third-party sellers on our marketplace site. We will remove the items while further reviewing this complaint.” .

It was a relief for Tanner, who said “I just don’t want anyone before Christmas thinking this is a great toy and going online and the same thing happening, it happened to me. “

Some families may already have a dancing cactus toy and if they didn’t speak Polish, they wouldn’t know what it said.

Complaints about the toy date back almost 5 months, so it’s not clear why the toy is still on sale.