Red Sox pull plug on David Ortiz bobblehead night, deeming figures ‘racially insensitive’

“My two immediate reactions were first, it was a really inaccurate portrayal of what he looks like,” Kennedy told the Associated Press. “My personal reaction was it was offensive and, to me, kind of appeared racially insensitive. I just had a bad reaction.”

The company which produced the bobbleheads, Bensussen Deutsch & Associates Inc., sculpts and paints each figurine by hand, according to WCVB-5 in Boston, so each one might be somewhat unique in appearance. The Boston Globe reports that two versions of the item were made and both were deemed unacceptable by the Red Sox.

Intially, the first 15,000 fans were supposed to receive Ortiz bobbleheads, but instead every fan who attended the game received cards with instructions on how to receive the replacement dolls.

“Everybody will receive one,” Kennedy said.

The new bobbleheads also will be produced by BDA, which said through a spokesperson that it agreed with the decision not to distribute the original item.

“We’re currently working closely with the Red Sox to ensure the team and its fans receive a quality product,” BDA said in a statement.

Ortiz was shown a photo of the rejected bobblehead before Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees. His reaction: “That’s supposed to be me?”

According to the Globe, Ortiz used “unprintable language” to say he agreed with the decision to pull the plug on the promotion.