German pixel-pirates, eBoy, continue to push the limit of political correctness and controversy with their latest PEECOL figures, Honky & Tonky. Previously seen on $50 t-shirts and $185 hoodies at Kidrobot, Honky & Tonky are White and Black platform figure strippers. These two characters are sure to ruffle some feathers as the PEECOL line has continuously come under fire for perpetuating racist stereotypes. Although eBoy has said that the figures are meant to be a commentary on these social issues, many people simply take the toys at face value. Following questionable figures like Burglar, Zulu and Mr. Q, Honky is likely to offend as many people as it wins over.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Did you mean to say “sexist”?
I can’t see anything about them that would indicate any kind of racial bias, one way or the other.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
The word ‘Honky” as applied to a white person is considered derogatory–there are 3 meanderings on the meaning at the Urban Dictionary here: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=honky&defid=648406
October 30th, 2008 at 10:12 am
“Honky”!?!? That’s the epithet in question?
Bah. Anyone who gets offended by that should really stop and re-evaluate their priorities in life…
October 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I agree that in among things to be upset about, this isn’t a big one, but the eBoy oeuvre as a whole pokes things that aren’t funny in an attempt to supposedly provide commentary. Where is the commentary? Or is it just us discussing whether “honky” is offensive or not?
October 30th, 2008 at 11:41 am
seriously? honky hasn’t been offensive since 1981 when The Jefferson’s were on tv.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I think we’ll find that a lot more people are upset over the fact that they’re strippers than anything else.
Personally, I’m just upset they don’t come with poles.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
POLES? POLES?!? HOW DARE YOU BRING OUR ALLIES FROM EASTERN EUROPE INTO THIS!
October 31st, 2008 at 6:31 am
Congratulations, mikelite.
You win the internet!
December 14th, 2008 at 8:29 am
So…. where can I buy them?
December 14th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I asked someone at Kidrobot, and apparently these aren’t actually in production yet. The pics are supposedly just digital mockups.
Pretty stellar mockups…I totally thought they had already been made and I had somehow missed ‘em.