10 Most Controversial LEGO Sets
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VOICE OVER: Richard Bush
WRITTEN BY: Richard Bush
Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 most controversial Lego sets. In this list, we take a look at various controversial Star Wars sets, product recalls and how fans shunned The Simpsons Lego. Do you know of any controversial Lego sets? Let us know in the comments below!
Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most controversial Lego sets.
We’re kicking things off with an entire range of Lego sets that faced controversy from the get-go when it was launched in 2014 - and you might be surprised to know that it revolves around one of America’s most loved families, The Simpsons. Were there hugely inappropriate or offensive Simpsons sets released? Well, no. Lego fans everywhere just had an issue with the TV family being Lego-ized, period. Some believed The Simpsons and some of its mature topics were not appropriate for all age groups - and therefore not suitable for Lego. Others simply thought The Simpsons was yesterday’s news, and that a Lego set based around their world wouldn’t be fun. We’ve got to disagree with that second point of view, I mean, give us The Simpsons house to build any day.
A different realm of controversy in the Lego verse is plain old disappointment. And arguably one of the most lackluster sets around is this Star Wars Assault on Hoth set. On the surface, it probably looks pretty decent, but fans were quick to point out that it was, well, rubbish. Launched in 2016, this set was ultimately aimed at adults, but received flack for its mediocre design, attention to detail - or lack thereof - box artwork, and the fact that its manual suggested combining the set with other sets that were already discontinued. Basically, it was a mess, and felt like a rushed mish-mash of off-cuts from other Star Wars sets. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, it was really expensive too. Thankfully, it was discontinued after about a year.
When Lego releases its latest batch of minifigures, fans swarm to stores to collect them all. But in 2013, Lego turned up the heat by adding a special minifig to the 10th anniversary set, a 17th minifigure named Mr. Gold - limited to just 5,000 examples. And thus ensued the Wonka golden ticket-like chaos - with people everywhere buying minifigures en masse. Some might have seen this as playful and fun, but many simply saw it as a blatant cash grab from the Danish brand - especially considering the Mr. Gold minifig is just, well, a basic minifig, painted gold. He doesn’t talk or anything. Still, Mr. Gold remains one of the rarest minifigures ever. Look at that smile on his face, and pompous monocle over his eye. He’s full of it.
Lego has a strict no-fly policy on making models of realistic weapons - and that includes any military sets like tanks. That’s why there was controversy when the brand announced they planned to release a detailed Technic version of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. This is a military aircraft used exclusively by the military, for a variety of military-related operations. Lego’s plan however was to highlight the vehicle’s importance as a rescue aircraft - and add some appropriate rescue stickers to boot. But the German Peace Society called them out, and accused Lego of being hypocrites. It even planned protests outside its store if the set was released. The set was indeed canceled just before it went to mass market - although some models, like this one nabbed by AustrainBrickFan - did slip through the cracks.
Although this was never the kind of Lego set you could buy in store, Lego is still heavily linked to this set, and it carries a rather unbelievable story. It goes like this - renowned Polish artist and photographer Zbigniew Libera says he wants to make his 1996 art project out of Lego. Lego says okay, we’ll supply the bricks, which Libera took as confirmation that they were sponsoring his project. Libera then produces a concentration camp built from Lego bricks, complete with barracks, watchtowers and skeleton prisoners. And it’s all boxed in what seems to be official Lego packaging. Lego then threatens legal action. The controversial set is currently on display in the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.
Lego has a bit of a patchy track record with releasing insensitive sets. And by that, we mean sets based on violent scenes from movies. The kind of sets you probably don’t want your kids recreating. Hello Tusken Raider Encounter from Attack of the Clones. Hello fire ant attack from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you know, you know. But the set we want to talk about is Palpatine's Arrest, a set that recreates a rather dramatic, heart-wrenching, and somewhat terrifying scene from Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Basically, this scene depicts good guys being slaughtered, and bad guys prevailing. It’s a pretty cool set, I guess, but there’s no denying that a dark cloud looms over it.
Shell Oil and Lego have become somewhat synonymous with each other. The two brands had a partnership for over 50 years, a ton of their sets feature things like gas stations and oil rigs, and Shell-branded Lego sets were sold in gas stations. But in 2014, Greenpeace said they’d had enough, and accused Lego of putting "cash before kids". They turned up the heat on the toymaker, and urged them to end their long partnership with Shell. And they did - and after Greenpeace released this rather spectacular viral video, all set to a melancholic rendition of “Everything Is Awesome”, they didn’t really have a choice. So, the dramatic ending of the Shell and Lego relationship kind of makes all the previous Shell-related Lego sets controversial in their own right.
Lego doesn’t have a particularly long history of product recalls, but the Super Truck from 2002 is pretty notable. This toy was recalled because there were reports of kids removing the wheels from it, revealing a dangerous spike-like axle. Reportedly around 358,000 of these trucks were recalled after several injuries were reported - although Lego did only refund for the truck, not the Duplo bricks that were included, because they didn’t have spikes in them. But you know what, at least Lego owns the mistake. It has a dedicated page on its website detailing recalls from its past - including this one.
No, not the Chandler, Monica and Joey kind of friends, this range of Lego toys was launched in 2012, clearly aimed towards the female market. But women’s groups in both the UK and the US took umbrage with the range’s use of pink and skinny figures, and said that its fun, cupcake, party theming was reinforcing gender stereotypes. A petition urging Lego to rethink its marketing strategy was started, and it received 50,000 signatures. And the Lego Friends toy line even received a TOADY award for “worst toy” from Fairplay, TOADY standing for “Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children”. Ouch. Despite all of this, Lego continues to sell the Lego Friends range - and it’s been a huge success for the brand. When defending its decision to keep the Friends range, Lego said that the creation of the toy line was actually fuelled by research of 3,000 girls who said they wanted to find relevance in Lego construction sets.
Ah yes, Star Wars strikes back, again, this time with a set that was said to reinforce negative Muslim stereotypes. The set in question is Jabba's Palace, a location immortalized in Return of the Jedi. The problem with this set however is that its exterior resembles the mosque of Hagia Sophia located in Istanbul, Turkey. Combine this resemblance with the diabolical character of Jabba the Hutt, and many saw this set as insensitive commentary on the Islamic religion, with the Turkish Cultural Community hitting out at Lego. An apology was demanded - but what Lego gave was more of an explanation as to how any apparent likeness to the holy building was a coincidence. The Turkish Cultural Community was not happy with this response, and both they and Lego went back and forth before the set was retired just a year and a half after launch.
#10: Lego The Simpsons
We’re kicking things off with an entire range of Lego sets that faced controversy from the get-go when it was launched in 2014 - and you might be surprised to know that it revolves around one of America’s most loved families, The Simpsons. Were there hugely inappropriate or offensive Simpsons sets released? Well, no. Lego fans everywhere just had an issue with the TV family being Lego-ized, period. Some believed The Simpsons and some of its mature topics were not appropriate for all age groups - and therefore not suitable for Lego. Others simply thought The Simpsons was yesterday’s news, and that a Lego set based around their world wouldn’t be fun. We’ve got to disagree with that second point of view, I mean, give us The Simpsons house to build any day.
#9: Star Wars Assault on Hoth (75098)
A different realm of controversy in the Lego verse is plain old disappointment. And arguably one of the most lackluster sets around is this Star Wars Assault on Hoth set. On the surface, it probably looks pretty decent, but fans were quick to point out that it was, well, rubbish. Launched in 2016, this set was ultimately aimed at adults, but received flack for its mediocre design, attention to detail - or lack thereof - box artwork, and the fact that its manual suggested combining the set with other sets that were already discontinued. Basically, it was a mess, and felt like a rushed mish-mash of off-cuts from other Star Wars sets. And if all that wasn’t bad enough, it was really expensive too. Thankfully, it was discontinued after about a year.
#8: The Mr. Gold Minifigure
When Lego releases its latest batch of minifigures, fans swarm to stores to collect them all. But in 2013, Lego turned up the heat by adding a special minifig to the 10th anniversary set, a 17th minifigure named Mr. Gold - limited to just 5,000 examples. And thus ensued the Wonka golden ticket-like chaos - with people everywhere buying minifigures en masse. Some might have seen this as playful and fun, but many simply saw it as a blatant cash grab from the Danish brand - especially considering the Mr. Gold minifig is just, well, a basic minifig, painted gold. He doesn’t talk or anything. Still, Mr. Gold remains one of the rarest minifigures ever. Look at that smile on his face, and pompous monocle over his eye. He’s full of it.
#7: Technic Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey (42113)
Lego has a strict no-fly policy on making models of realistic weapons - and that includes any military sets like tanks. That’s why there was controversy when the brand announced they planned to release a detailed Technic version of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. This is a military aircraft used exclusively by the military, for a variety of military-related operations. Lego’s plan however was to highlight the vehicle’s importance as a rescue aircraft - and add some appropriate rescue stickers to boot. But the German Peace Society called them out, and accused Lego of being hypocrites. It even planned protests outside its store if the set was released. The set was indeed canceled just before it went to mass market - although some models, like this one nabbed by AustrainBrickFan - did slip through the cracks.
#6: LEGO Concentration Camp
Although this was never the kind of Lego set you could buy in store, Lego is still heavily linked to this set, and it carries a rather unbelievable story. It goes like this - renowned Polish artist and photographer Zbigniew Libera says he wants to make his 1996 art project out of Lego. Lego says okay, we’ll supply the bricks, which Libera took as confirmation that they were sponsoring his project. Libera then produces a concentration camp built from Lego bricks, complete with barracks, watchtowers and skeleton prisoners. And it’s all boxed in what seems to be official Lego packaging. Lego then threatens legal action. The controversial set is currently on display in the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.
#5: Palpatine's Arrest (9526)
Lego has a bit of a patchy track record with releasing insensitive sets. And by that, we mean sets based on violent scenes from movies. The kind of sets you probably don’t want your kids recreating. Hello Tusken Raider Encounter from Attack of the Clones. Hello fire ant attack from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. If you know, you know. But the set we want to talk about is Palpatine's Arrest, a set that recreates a rather dramatic, heart-wrenching, and somewhat terrifying scene from Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. Basically, this scene depicts good guys being slaughtered, and bad guys prevailing. It’s a pretty cool set, I guess, but there’s no denying that a dark cloud looms over it.
#4: Shell Oil Sets
Shell Oil and Lego have become somewhat synonymous with each other. The two brands had a partnership for over 50 years, a ton of their sets feature things like gas stations and oil rigs, and Shell-branded Lego sets were sold in gas stations. But in 2014, Greenpeace said they’d had enough, and accused Lego of putting "cash before kids". They turned up the heat on the toymaker, and urged them to end their long partnership with Shell. And they did - and after Greenpeace released this rather spectacular viral video, all set to a melancholic rendition of “Everything Is Awesome”, they didn’t really have a choice. So, the dramatic ending of the Shell and Lego relationship kind of makes all the previous Shell-related Lego sets controversial in their own right.
#3: LEGO EXPLORE Super Truck (3509) Recall
Lego doesn’t have a particularly long history of product recalls, but the Super Truck from 2002 is pretty notable. This toy was recalled because there were reports of kids removing the wheels from it, revealing a dangerous spike-like axle. Reportedly around 358,000 of these trucks were recalled after several injuries were reported - although Lego did only refund for the truck, not the Duplo bricks that were included, because they didn’t have spikes in them. But you know what, at least Lego owns the mistake. It has a dedicated page on its website detailing recalls from its past - including this one.
#2: Lego Friends
No, not the Chandler, Monica and Joey kind of friends, this range of Lego toys was launched in 2012, clearly aimed towards the female market. But women’s groups in both the UK and the US took umbrage with the range’s use of pink and skinny figures, and said that its fun, cupcake, party theming was reinforcing gender stereotypes. A petition urging Lego to rethink its marketing strategy was started, and it received 50,000 signatures. And the Lego Friends toy line even received a TOADY award for “worst toy” from Fairplay, TOADY standing for “Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children”. Ouch. Despite all of this, Lego continues to sell the Lego Friends range - and it’s been a huge success for the brand. When defending its decision to keep the Friends range, Lego said that the creation of the toy line was actually fuelled by research of 3,000 girls who said they wanted to find relevance in Lego construction sets.
#1: Jabba's Palace (9516)
Ah yes, Star Wars strikes back, again, this time with a set that was said to reinforce negative Muslim stereotypes. The set in question is Jabba's Palace, a location immortalized in Return of the Jedi. The problem with this set however is that its exterior resembles the mosque of Hagia Sophia located in Istanbul, Turkey. Combine this resemblance with the diabolical character of Jabba the Hutt, and many saw this set as insensitive commentary on the Islamic religion, with the Turkish Cultural Community hitting out at Lego. An apology was demanded - but what Lego gave was more of an explanation as to how any apparent likeness to the holy building was a coincidence. The Turkish Cultural Community was not happy with this response, and both they and Lego went back and forth before the set was retired just a year and a half after launch.
