'The Telegraph' Sparks Outrage With Headline Decrying 'Woke' LEGOs That Depict Disabled People

The U.K. newspaper eventually changed an ableist headline calling LEGO 'woke' for introducing new figurines that depict people with Down Syndrome and limb differences after a flurry of backlash.

Winn Sioux Christnot-Peters

Feb. 24, 2023

A racially diverse group of 8 LEGO characters are arranged as if posing for a picture, with 6 standing and 2 sitting down in front of the rest of the group.

LEGO

British news outlet The Telegraph is under fire after it published an article decrying LEGO as "woke" because the company released a new line of LEGO Friends Minifigures of children with various visible and invisible disabilities.

The Telegraph put out an article criticizing LEGO for the inclusion with the headline:

"Lego goes 'woke' as new figures released with Down's syndrome and missing limbs"

$tweet from @mimmymum with a screenshot of the story from The Telegraph with the caption "This was the Telegraph headline \u2014calling representation of disabled people 'woke' \u2014 before the disability charity @scope asked them to change it! Right-wing media are so desperate to vilify organisations supporting minority inclusion, they've lost any sense of humanity! [Disappointed Face Emoji]"$ @mimmymum/Twitter

Disability rights group Scope—as well as plenty of others—quickly called out The Telegraph and article author Nick Squires on Twitter.

Scope asked:

"Why are you so against disabled children being able to see themselves reflected in their toys? Don't they deserve the right to play?"

They also noted:

"Weaponising disabled representation like this is hugely damaging."

\u201cHi @Telegraph,\n\nWhy are you so against disabled children being able to see themselves reflected in their toys? Don't they deserve the right to play?\u00a0\n\nWeaponising disabled representation like this is hugely damaging.\u00a0\n\nPlease change this headline.\nhttps://t.co/u7HNrVoTTQ\u201d
— Scope (@Scope) 1677082749

The Telegraph eventually changed the headline, but it was concerning it was ever published in the first place.

\u201cWe're pleased to see that the headline has now been changed. But it should never have been published in the first place.\n\nThank you @LEGO_Group for helping make sure that disabled children to are represented during play.\u201d
— Scope (@Scope) 1677082749

Other Twitter users were also incredulous at The Telegraph headline's audacity.

A tweet from @DrFrancesRyan with a screenshot showing an article from The Telegraph and the sarcastic caption "Thoughts and prayers to The Telegraph who are angry about *checks notes* disabled children having toys that make them feel good. Good to take those entitled b******s down a notch!" @DrFrancesRyan/Twitter

\u201cI know that when I think of a group in society who need their privilege inspected, it\u2019s\u2026children with missing limbs. Huge thanks as ever to the best and brightest of the British press for taking this vital issue on.\u201d
— Frances Ryan (@Frances Ryan) 1677088243

\u201cHey @NickSquires1 I\u2019m wondering why you\u2019ve tied Lego\u2019s new disabled figures into the \u201canti-woke\u201d movement. Who are these \u201cothers\u201d that think the inclusivity is overly sensitive?\u201d
— Adam Hills (@Adam Hills) 1677081642

@adamhillscomedy/Twitter

@adamhillscomedy/Twitter

\u201c@adamhillscomedy @gullssinceaboy @NickSquires1 Because being anti-woke means thinking that disabled and vulnerable people are "lesser" and should be dismissed, ignored, hidden or ridiculed. The right-wingers can publicly deny this all they want, but it's their ideology and what they really think.\u201d
— Adam Hills (@Adam Hills) 1677081642

\u201c@adamhillscomedy @NickSquires1 \u201cDisability is woke\u201d squares very painfully next to \u201canything woke must be exterminated from society\u201d I have to say\u201d
— Adam Hills (@Adam Hills) 1677081642

Others were just glad to see LEGO making an effort to acknowledge disabled children and help them see themselves in their toys.

\u201c@adamhillscomedy @NickSquires1 Wow..disablity is a everyday life for many millions... Glad @LEGO_Group have done this..\u201d
— Adam Hills (@Adam Hills) 1677081642

\u201c@adamhillscomedy @NickSquires1 Every child deserves to see themselves represented in their toys. Playmobil have had tiny wheelchairs and crutches for years now, why shouldn't Lego? Including disabled children shouldn't be a question in this day and age.\u201d
— Adam Hills (@Adam Hills) 1677081642

The Telegraph wasn't alone in calling out Lego for going "woke" by including disabled people in their Friends line of products.

Fox News' Harris Faulkner did a segment claiming the Lego company based in Denmark was pushing identity politics on behalf of Democrats to attack Republicans.

The Young Turks skewered Fox for their latest outrage in a segment you can see here:

According to LEGO's press release, they definitely didn't make this decision randomly.

Or in relation to any politics.

Lego conducted a thorough investigation of what kids actually want.

"Because the LEGO Group values children as its role models, this next generation of LEGO Friends has implemented input from kid testing, research and feedback from letters sent to the company, which all found children had a desire to see themselves, their friends and their families better represented."

Their findings were honestly encouraging for the future.

Kids want their toys to be more diverse and reflective of real kids and for the world, in general, to be more equitable.

"The research also found that 3 in 4 (73%) children felt that there were not enough toys with characters that represented them and similarly, that 8 in 10 (80%) children would like there to be more toys with characters who look like them."

"Moreover, children themselves are asking for a fairer, more equitable world with 9 out of 10 (91%) saying they care about everyone being treated equally."

They said of the new toy line:

"The brand-new universe of authentic, interesting, passionate, and diverse characters includes additions of multiple skin tones, cultures, physical and non-visible disabilities, and neurodiversity."

"The new sets and series will feature characters with limb difference, Downs [sic] Syndrome, anxiety, vitiligo, and a dog with a wheelchair."

It's not just visible representation either.

The characters' storylines were written to reflect what life is really like for disabled kids.

"The new friends also explore and work to overcome modern challenges that they face, passions, obstacles, and differences, all while trying to create friendships."

LEGO is far from the only toy manufacturer moving to be more inclusive in their toys.

So, if The Telegraph is truly bothered by diversity in children's toys, they'd better be ready to be really, really upset.