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Princess Leia doll to be made by Disney after backlash

Twitter campaign prompted by concerned mom leads Disney to say it's going to make Princess Leia dolls.

By Danielle Haynes
Carrie Fisher plays Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" francise. UPI/Jim Ruymen
Carrie Fisher plays Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" francise. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

ORLANDO, Fla., June 14 (UPI) -- Disney bowed down to the pressures of social media backlash and announced it would be creating a Princess Leia doll after a none-too-happy mom confronted the media giant on Twitter.

British film executive Natalie Wreyford wasn't thrilled to discover she couldn't find a Princess Leia doll at any of the Disney stores, much to her daughter's chagrin. So she took her concern to Twitter on May 19.

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The Disney Store Twitter account was nice enough to respond pretty promptly, but the answer wasn't what Wreyford was looking for.

The response prompted a Twitter campaign -- #WeWantLeia -- and petition to get Disney to make Princess Leia dolls to go along with all the other Star Wars dolls the company already sells.

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The campaign worked and Disney announced plans to manufacture Princess Leia merchandise in the coming months.

"The current assortment of Star Wars products at the Disney Store launched earlier this year, and is just the beginning of what is to come," Disney spokeswoman Margita Thompson told TIME. "We're excited to be rolling out new products in the coming months, including several items that will feature Princess Leia, one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars galaxy."

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