'Woke garbage': 'Shark Tank' viewers slam Play Maysie owner as she debuts gender-inclusive dollhouse

Except for one, Play Maysie owner, Kayla Lupean, was unable to persuade any of the Sharks to invest in her startup
UPDATED APR 15, 2023
'Shark Tank' viewers call out Play Maysie owner, Kayla Lupean, for gender-neutral dollhouse (ABC)
'Shark Tank' viewers call out Play Maysie owner, Kayla Lupean, for gender-neutral dollhouse (ABC)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kayla Lupean, an entrepreneur, came on 'Shark Tank' Season 14, Episode 20, intending to wow the Sharks and walk away with a big investment. Even though she walked out of the Tank with a good deal, it appears that her gender-inclusive toys caused quite a stir among spectators.

When children play with toys, it is natural for them to become a little messy. They explore and experiment, which frequently results in disorganized play spaces and dispersed objects. While this might be irritating for parents, it's vital to realize that it's a typical component of a child's development and inventiveness. In 2020, Kayla designed the one-of-a-kind product Play Maysie, a portable dollhouse with magnetic furniture linked to the base of the box. Play Maysie is revolutionizing children's play by providing a unique line of portable dollhouses and dolls that provide an eco-friendly, imaginative, and screen-free play experience.

RELATED ARTICLES

'Not seeing the utility': Internet slams Cincha founders for $35 travel belts on 'Shark Tank'

'It’s all about cash flow': Internet slams 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary for profiting off 'death'

The Play Maysie Portable Dollhouse as seen in 'Shark Tank' was invented by single adoptive mother Kayla Lupean (ABC)
The Play Maysie Portable Dollhouse as seen in 'Shark Tank' was invented by single  mother Kayla Lupean (ABC)

Kayla pitches her gender-inclusive toy range

Play Masie are portable dollhouses that appeal to both children and adults due to their useful and adjustable design. Play Maysie is creating a new standard for children's toys with its emphasis on sustainability, providing parents with an ecologically responsible option for their children's playtime while encouraging their imagination and creativity. Play Maysie is devoted to environmental stewardship and employs high-quality materials rather than cheap plastic toys. Kayla's vision has been realized, thanks to the brand's collaboration with reliable suppliers in China. In addition, with every purchase, Play Maysie distributes cases to children entering the foster care system, demonstrating the brand's commitment to the community.

The Play Maysie portable dollhouse is a fresh spin on the classic playhouse. This clever playhouse comes in a handy lunchbox-style casing that can be customized with the brand's magnetic accessories. The dollhouses are intended to be inclusive and gender-neutral, with a diverse selection of dolls that may encourage creative play in all youngsters. This inclusivity allows youngsters of all genders to enjoy the dollhouses and promotes an early feeling of inclusion and acceptance. The dolls are also available in a variety of ethnicities and body types, fostering diversity and inclusion in play.

Kayla walked into the Tank seeking $150,000 for 10% of Play Maysie. On Christmas Day 2020, the CEO and founder of Play Maysie disclosed that she proposed a portable dollhouse. She was a wedding photographer who had lost most of her business owing to the Covid-19 outbreak at the time. Kayla, a single adoptive mother, realized that her daughter's toys had too many loose parts, making it impossible to organize them and extend playing. She also noticed that her child loved to play near her, which meant carrying toys around the home. These observations inspired Kayla's concept for a portable, clutter-free dollhouse that would provide youngsters with a long-lasting, open-ended play experience. Hearing how Kayla came around to founding her own company made Shark Barbara Corcoran tear up.

The dollhouses are $48 each, with additional charges for each doll. Each magnetic doll is usually $6, and a set of six costs $24; the Shark Tank Collection is presently on sale for $145.80. Except for one, Kayla was unable to persuade any of the Sharks to invest in her startup. Shark Barbara, who got nostalgic after seeing the products, chose to make an offer and help Kayla further her mission. Following a series of counteroffers between Kayla and Barbara, the single mum-cum-entrepreneur picked Barbara's offer.

'Shark tank should be ashamed promoting this'

Calling out on the product's agenda, an irritated viewer wrote, "The honey bars were good. The rest was woke garbage. I deleted the recording before it finished." Another person added, "Sorry but I am not feeling any of these products tonight." After the episode moved on from Play Maysie to a food item, a fan tweeted, "finally a product for all with no gender bull. Shark tank went down the rabbit hole tonight." While slamming the founder, another angry viewer wrote, "Yeah as soon as the girl says but we're making gender-neutral toys for boys right there I would have been f*** you I'm out ridiculous it's always women always trying to turn boys into girls already."



 



 



 



 

Calling out the show for promoting gender-neutral products, another viewer added, "Enough of this gender neutral bull. Boys used to play with army men and girls with dolls but could switch if want but you dont create a product to down the male female genders. Shark tank should be ashamed promting this." Unhappy with how the pitch went down, one viewer commented on an Instagram post saying, "Literally said “it’s important for boys to play with dolls”. We are” inclusive”. Luckily Barb offered her an awful deal she had to accept."



 

'Shark Tank' Season 14 Episode 21 will air on ABC on Friday, May 5, at 8 PM ET. You can catch the latest episode the next day on demand, or on Hulu. You can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

RELATED TOPICS SHARK TANK (2009)

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Ahead of host Trevor Noah kicking off the Grammys 2026, celebrities from Teddy Swims to PinkPantheress are celebrating early.
6 hours ago
By the end of the first half of 'Bridgerton' Season 4, Danbury has set things in motion that may ultimately lead to her departure
13 hours ago
A ‘Daredevil’ (2003) actor turns up in ‘Wonder Man’, but Marvel flips expectations with a sharp, self-aware cameo.
15 hours ago
Showrunner Jess Brownell had teased the leads for 'Bridgerton' Seasons 5 and 6 in a creative reveal using her pocket square
15 hours ago
Before joining the staff at Penwood House, Sophie had a very different life as the ward of Lord Penwood, her biological father
17 hours ago
Trevor Noah will host the upcoming 68th edition of the Grammy Awards in what will be his last appearance as the event's MC
17 hours ago
'Grey's Anatomy,' Season 22 midseason finale featured Kate Walsh making a comeback as Addison Shepherd, with the second half of the season coming soon.
19 hours ago
Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton were the leading pair on Season 2 of 'Bridgerton' and will now make a return in the ongoing season.
1 day ago
The scene from the library saw Benedict and Sophie have a conversation in French, which wasn't translated by Netflix.
1 day ago
Season 4 of 'Bridgerton' is based on the book 'An Offer From A Gentleman' written by Julia Quinn and will be out in two parts.
1 day ago