Online fashion retailer Yandy has withdrawn a sexy ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Halloween costume from sale following a backlash on social media.
The costume industry is now well-versed in the annual Halloween costume controversy and this year looks set to be no different as the divisive costume has been recalled before the season has even begun.
The costume itself was a ‘sexy’ take on the The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian story of female subjugation by Margaret Atwood, which has been popularised by the recent television series.
The ‘Brave Red Maiden Costume’ featured a skin-tight red mini dress with a long red cape and white bonnet and was based on the outfits worn by the women forced into surrogacy in the story.
The backlash spread quickly across social media, with many consumers and commentators criticizing the company for sexualizing a series about misogyny and rape.
Yandy removed the costume from its website the next day, saying: “Over the last few hours, it has become obvious that our ‘Yandy Brave Red Maiden Costume’ is being seen as a symbol of women’s oppression, rather than an expression of women’s empowerment. This is unfortunate, as it was not our intention on any level. Our initial inspiration to create the piece was through witnessing its use in recent months as a powerful protest image.”
The retailer continues to facecriticism for similarly risque costumes based on stereotypes of Native Americans and other indigenous people.
