By Mallory Mattingly
LeBron James will be the first professional athlete to have his own Ken Doll.
“Barbie is teaming up with the LeBron James Family Foundation to release the first Ken® doll of a professional athlete, LeBron James, to recognize his positive impact on culture, style, and community,” Mattel, Inc. announced in a press release.
Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, Mattel, Krist Berger, added, “Ken is Barbie’s longtime best friend and supporter. We are excited to bring fans a new presentation of Ken that celebrates LeBron as a role model, his icon status, lasting impact on culture, and dedication to setting a positive example for the next generation to reach their limitless potential.”
The basketball legend is honored by the opportunity.
“As a young kid, I was fortunate to have role models who not only inspired me but also showed me what’s possible through hard work and dedication,” James said in the statement. “Now, as an adult, I understand how vital it is for young people to have positive figures to look up to. That’s why partnering with Barbie to release the LeBron James Kenbassadors doll is such an honor. It’s an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role models who instill confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness.”
The Lebron James Foundation shared the news on Instagram, along with a photo of the doll, saying, “The kid from Akron is now the first Ken doll of a professional athlete!”
“For the LeBron James Family Foundation and the families we serve, this is so much more than a doll. It represents the reality that a kid from anywhere can make a difference,” Michele Campbell, Executive Director of the LeBron James Family Foundation, said. “We are incredibly honored to partner with Barbie to continue inspiring the next generation and to celebrate LeBron’s unwavering commitment to his community by giving back through the LeBron James Kenbassadors doll.”
Instagram account Uninterrupted shared a video of James’ reaction seeing the doll for the first time.
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With a smile across his face, James said, ‘Oh, he’s dope!”
“That’s so cool,” he added. “Just a kid from Akron. Got his Beat headphones.”
“Every detail accounted for,” the post read.
Now that James has become the first-ever professional athlete with his own Ken doll, this could open up the door for more athletes to get their name, image and likeness created into something similar.
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