‘Django Unchained’ action figures discontinued

theGRIO REPORT - Upon the film's release on Christmas day, a line of figurines of the movie’s main characters were made available for purchase online...

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

The controversial Django Unchained action figures have been discontinued, according to the Associated Press. 

Upon the film’s release on Christmas day, a line of figurines of the movie’s main characters were made available for purchase online. The dolls are manufactured by toy maker NECA in partnership with The Weinstein Company, which released the film.

“We have tremendous respect for the audience and it was never our intent to offend anyone,” The Weinstein Co. said in a statement to the AP.

Advocacy groups like Project Islamic Hope immediately protested and spoke out against the toys.

“We were outraged,” said Najee Ali, director of the advocacy group . “We feel that it trivializes the horrors of slavery and what African Americans experienced.”

TMZ recently asked one of the film’s stars, Christoph Waltz if he planned to collect the action figures, to which the Oscar nominee replied, “I hear they’re discontinued.”

Django Unchained was recently nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture. It is also Quentin Tarantino’s highest-grossing movie to date, earning over $125 million at the box office.

theGrio reached out to The Weinstein Co. for comment about the shelving of the action figures, but have yet to hear back.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals

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