Halloween retailer Spirit Halloween, which previously defended its decision to sell a costume inspired by Bruce Jenner’s gender transition, caved to pressure from LGBT groups, and pulled the costume from its website Wednesday.
The “Call Me Caitlyn Unisex Adult Costume,” which satirizes the former Olympian’s likeness, as seen on the cover of the July issue of Vanity Fair, sparked outrage online Tuesday, with Twitter users and LGBT advocates describing it as “transphobic.”
Some of those upset by the costume also made violent threats toward anyone considering going as the transgender TV star.
A Change.org petition demanding Spirit Costumes pull the ensemble, expressed concerns it would continue the company’s “oppressive tradition with a transphobic costume of Caitlyn Jenner.”
“To make a costume out of a marginalized identity reduces that person and community to a stereotype for privileged people to abuse. In this case, if you follow through with production of a Caitlyn Jenner costume, cisgender people will purchase it to make fun of her and our community,” the petition reads.
Company marketing director Lisa Barr defended the “Caitlyn” Tuesday, writing in a statement: “At Spirit Halloween, we create a wide range of costumes that are often based on celebrities, public figures, heroes and superheroes… Caitlyn Jenner is all of the above and our Caitlyn-inspired costume reflects just that.”
Despite the statement, TheWrap reports the costume has been removed from the store’s website.
Rival costume shop anytimecostumes.com is still offering the getup, however at the time of this article, all sizes, with the exception of X-LARGE, have been sold out.
The costume includes a white padded top and matching shorts, as well as a brunette wig and a sash that says, “call me Caitlyn.”
“With the items in the set, you’ll be able to emulate her picture perfect look for the upcoming party this year,” a description for the costume reads.
https://twitter.com/kipjones/status/636227259695656960
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