Movie News

© The Weinstein Co. / 'Django Unchained'

WENN

Action figures based on characters in Quentin Tarantino's new movie "Django Unchained" have been banned from eBay.

The dolls attracted widespread criticism from civil rights leaders when they went on sale and were subsequently pulled from the production line. They reportedly continued to change hands on eBay.com, but bosses of the website have now blocked them from sale over fears they will cause offense.

Bing: 'Django' continues to draw ire

EBay spokeswoman Kari Ramirez tells Deadline, "These were removed as they were in violation of our Offensive Materials policy.

"The policy bans items which are "marketed inappropriately with an intolerant regard toward religion, sexual orientation, race, or ethnic background" and includes restrictions on "racially or ethnically offensive language, historical items, reproductions and works of art and media."

The dolls were reportedly authorized by bosses at The Weinstein Company, the film firm behind Tarantino's new Western, which is set in slavery-era Mississippi and stars Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio. "Django Unchained" is nominated for numerous Oscars including the coveted Best Picture Academy Award, but it has also sparked widespread controversy over the repeated use of racial slurs throughout the movie.