Anthony Weiner actionfigure crashes website
Connecticut company makes a killing out of congressman’s humiliation over lewd pictures
They say that every problem presents an opportunity, and so it has proved with the travails of US congressman Anthony Weiner, who was caught sending lewd photographs to fans on the internet. But unfortunately for Weiner, while he is the one with the problem, someone else has spotted the opportunity.
An action figure company from Connecticut has decided to try and milk the affair for all its worth and has released a doll of the politician, who comes wearing a pair of gym shorts with the slogan "Tweet This" written on it.
The 'standard' version of the New York congressman costs $39.95, while an "anatomically correct" adult version of the figure is available for an extra $10.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The doll has proved so popular that it crashed the website of the company behind the idea, HeroBuilders.com, which also produces action figures of other politicians including Sarah Palin, George W Bush and Dick Cheney.
It also provides evidence that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America, just weeks after another quick-thinking businessman made $100,000 in 48 hours by selling T-shirts celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden.
The popularity of the doll is an added humiliation for Weiner, who has refused to resign over the scandal, despite being urged to do so by president Barack Obama.
Weiner admitted exchanging lewd messages and photos with women on Twitter and other social networking sites after accidentally posting a picture of his crotch on his Twitter account. At first he claimed he had been hacked but later came clean. He subsequently took a temporary leave of absence from Congress and went into rehab.
His pregnant wife Huma Abedin, an aide to Hillary Clinton, returned to the family home in Washington last night after a visit to Africa with the Secretary of State.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What might happen if Trump eliminates the Department Of Education?
Today's Big Question The president-elect says the federal education agency is on the chopping block
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’
Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?
Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
By The Week Staff Published
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?
Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
By The Week Staff Published