Couple's same-sex Barbie gift for niece inspires huge toy company Mattel
A couple looking for the perfect gift for their eight-year-old niece have captured the attention of toy company Mattel - after they created their own same-sex Barbie set.
To celebrate their niece’s birthday, uncles Matt Jacobi and Nick Caprio from Scottsdale, Arizona were looking for a doll gift for eight-year-old Natalie that could tie-in to the theme of the couple’s upcoming May wedding - where Natalie and her sister will be flower girls.
“I wanted to give her something related to the wedding but also something she would enjoy,” Jacobi told Good Morning America - so he went in search of a Barbie doll.
According to Jacobi, he and Caprio came across what would have been the perfect gift - a Mattel/Barbie “Wedding Set!” - which came complete with two flower girls and a cake, but only a “bride and groom were available.”
So the uncles decided to add their own unique touch to the gift - by creating a “Gay Wedding Set.”
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In addition to surprising Natalie with the doll set, which features two grooms, Jacobi also posted a picture of the revised Barbie wedding set to Instagram, where he tagged Mattel.
“Hi @Mattel! Happy Holidays. We’ve had a difficult time finding a same-sex wedding set to give to my niece for her eighth birthday,” Jacobi captioned the photo. “She and her little sister are flower girls in our upcoming May wedding. We thought it would be special to give her something with a little meaning behind it. What a bummer you don’t make one with two grooms.
“Anyway, we had to get creative and make a couple purchases. I hope our custom gift inspires you to make a gay wedding set!”
The couple’s creation captured the attention of the toy company, which contacted the pair to set up a meeting.
A post shared by MATT JACOBI (@mattjacobi) on Dec 8, 2018 at 5:45pm PST
“It worked,” Jacobi wrote in a follow-up post to Instagram, “We are meeting with their design team including the head of the Barbie design team. Thank you to everyone for all your support.
“Let’s get a same-sex wedding set made!”
A post shared by MATT JACOBI (@mattjacobi) on Nov 4, 2018 at 2:03pm PST
In addition to support from Mattel, the couple has also received praise from people online who agree that Mattel should create same-sex dolls.
“I love this! Congrats on your engagement and the brilliant product development,” one person wrote.
Another said: “Love this so much!”
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The Independent has contacted Jacobi and Mattel for comment.
