Just when you thought 2016 couldn't get any weirder... something sort of darkly marvelous happens to make you say, "Well, didn't see that one coming." Believe it or not, I'm not even talking about President-elect Donald Trump. I am talking about the beloved "It Toy" of the Christmas season, the adorable Hatchimals. Parents spent many a sleepless night worrying about whether or not they might get their hands on a Hatchimal; unfortunately for those that did, their sleepless nights might not be over just yet. If you're wondering what to do if your kid's Hatchimal is swearing at night, let's take a moment to really think about that one. Because it is all just so 2016, you know?
Most parents out there have heard of Hatchimals, the $60 interactive hatching toy created by Spin Master Toys in Canada that can be taught to play games, dance, and speak. And oh boy, can some of those Hatchimals speak, even in their sleep. After all the desperation to get their hands on a Hatchimal (restocks at big name stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys "R" Us saw lineups outside stores hours before opening), a few parents have reportedly noticed something a little different about their child's Hatchimal. Apparently, these parents claim their children's Hatchimals mumble "f--k me" during the night.
One of the parents who noticed their son's Hatchimal's potty mouth was Nick Galego of Vancouver, Canada. He posted a video of his son's Hatchimal reportedly saying "f--k me" on YouTube (although to me it sounded an awful lot like a sigh), but he's planning to keep the Hatchimal anyway. His wife Sarah Galego told CTV Vancouver Island, “If [our son] was a little bit older we might be more offended about it.”
Spin Master Toys, the creator of Hatchimals, said in a statement to Romper on Thursday,
Hatchimals communicate by speaking their own unique language, which is made of up of random sounds, and by making other noises, including shivering when they're cold and snoring while they sleep. We can assure consumers that Hatchimals do not curse, nor do they use foul language.
Still, if you find your Hatchimal forming those random sounds into an R-rated lullaby for your precious little one and would prefer not to keep it, you shouldn't have any problem unloading it. I wouldn't recommend contacting Spin Master Toys directly, since the company has been at DEFCON 1 since Christmas with complaints of defective and "stillborn" Hatchimals that have left many a child crying under the Christmas tree. However, if you remembered to hold on to your receipt, you can bring your faulty or foul-mouthed Hatchimal back to the point of purchase for a full refund or exchange if the store has any in stock. If you bought your Hatchimal online at Amazon or eBay, be sure to return the Hatchimal before the 30 day expiry.
Or... you could keep your swearing Hatchimal. Because it so perfectly represents 2016. What better keepsake, right?
