Amazon MGM Studios is preparing to release He-Man: Master of the Universe later this year, reviving one of the most lucrative toy franchises in history.
But as the studio moves forward with the reboot, fans were stunned to learn that Roger Sweet, the toy designer credited with creating He-Man, now relies on a GoFundMe to afford more than $10,000 per month in dementia care.
Folks on social media focused their criticism on Amazon MGM Studios and the broader entertainment industry. They argued that companies continued to profit from legacy characters while creators aged without sufficient support.
Roger Sweet’s wife described the toll of dementia and rising costs
On the GoFundMe page, Marlene Sweet explained her husband’s career and current condition in detail.
She wrote, "My husband, Roger Sweet, is the creator of HE-MAN and MASTERS of the UNIVERSE. [...] Roger designed and named the original He-Man character, and worked for years with other designers to create all the other characters and playsets that enthralled kids for so many years - and still do today!"
She also recalled their long marriage and Sweet’s relationship with fans. "Over the years Roger was invited to and attended multiple COMICON conventions," she wrote. "He always loved talking about HE-MAN and MASTERS with all the fans!"
Sweet, nearly 91, has developed dementia that worsened over time. Recently, Marlene explained, he suffered a fall that led to two brain bleeds and an ICU stay.
Because doctors considered him a high fall risk, they determined he needed memory care, which came at a steep price.
"Unfortunately these care facilities are not covered by Medicare," Marlene wrote, adding that the cost reached $10.2K per month. Therefore, she asked He-Man fans for help. By Feb 26, the campaign surpassed its $50K goal, reaching $65.5K and continuing to grow.
Sweet's GoFundMe collides with new He-Man movie news
As the fundraiser gained attention, people on X voiced anger toward major companies.
@emkenobi tweeted, "Amazon MGM Studios which is valued at almost $10 billion is releasing a movie about He-Man this year which will easily make millions of dollars. Meanwhile, the literal creator of the character, who without him that movie wouldn’t even exist, has to rely on a GoFundMe for his medical care. F*cking insane."
Others pointed to Mattel’s contribution. @tpr_org posted, "@Mattel have some shame and match the gfm amount rather than 5k."
Meanwhile, some comments widened the scope of the discussion to include the whole of the entertainment industry.
@Hanike_B noted, "Huge franchises make massive revenue, but the systems around creator compensation and support clearly need improvement."
Several users tied the situation to healthcare access. @JBoy02 added, "It's insane that healthcare still isn't a right in this country. We are so far behind and just getting worse."
@ShutUpPabs wrote, "It’s not about what he did or didn’t do with the rights […] It’s about Amazon doing the right thing."
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