Mrs. Potato Head made a guest appearance on MSNBC when host Joy Reid used her as an example to declare Republicans were more concerned about the toy's gender identity than healthcare in America.
"Here is Mrs. Potato Head. Does she matter in your life? Is this what's important to you that she is able to be a girl Mrs. Potato Head. This is what they're talking about," said Reid of the GOP platform's current fixation on cancel culture than on pressing matters.
While holding the plastic spud, Reid said on the March 4 episode of The ReidOut:
"This is more important to them than health care...It seems ridiculous for me to be sitting here on a prime-time television news show with a Mrs. Potato Head next to me. This is what they're doing on the right."
The host continued:
"This is the equivalent of what Republican governance has become."
"Hanging around with a potato. And making sure the potato is a girl or a boy ... That is literally the Republican platform."
You can watch the segment, below.
In response to toy company Hasbro officially changing the name of "Mr. Potato Head" and "Mrs. Potato Head" to simply "Potato Head" to promote more creative play, Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz said at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC):
"Look out, Mr. Potato Head, you're next. I'm sorry, I think now he's going by Potato X. He can't be Mr. Potato."
Data from the Stanford Cable TV News Analyzer published in The Washington Post showed that Fox News mentioned Potato Head more times than discussing the pandemic-related relief bill in the past week—at least 35 times on Fox News and Fox Business combined, according to CNN.
Author and CNN columnist Jill Filipovic told CNN's Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter on Sunday's Reliable Sources:
"The conversations about Mr. Potato Head and trans kids or whatever the culture war narrative is are a huge distraction."
Reid's segment concluded with her reminding viewers the purpose of politics was "to solve problems" instead of complaining about a toy.
Twitter applauded Reid for her comments and called out the GOP on their mismanaged priorities.
Despite the GOP's accusation of liberals "canceling" Mr. Potato Head, Hasbro assured the popular potato toy was here to stay.
Children can imagine their Potato Head is a potato, a dog, a space alien, an adult or a baby spud. Whereas the title Mr. and Mrs. implies an adult male and female only and can limit creative play.
But Hasbro is not changing the pats included with their toys.
Hasbro tweeted:
"MR. POTATO HEAD isn't going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the 'MR.' I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren't going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD."
