Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume sparks outcry
Halloween costumes are usually meant to be scary or funny, but some social media users are not laughing about a Caitlyn Jenner costume that has made its way around the Internet.
WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com is just one of the websites that offers the "Call Me Caitlyn" costume.
The description reads: "If you want some 'Vanity' this Halloween then try wearing the Unisex Call Me Caitlyn Costume. This ensemble is designed after the one worn by the newly transformed Olympic gold medalist as she made her debut on the cover of a magazine and will make you the top news story of the night when you show up to party dressed as her ... This unisex costume can be worn by both men and women but either way it's guaranteed to start a conversation."
Activist Addison Vincent started a Change.org petition specific to Spirit Halloween, calling the costume "transphobic."
"We demand that you revoke your ideas and production of a Caitlyn Jenner costume for Halloween," wrote Vincent. "With a reputation of sexist, racist, and culturally appropriative costumes, we are concerned that this costume will continue your 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 was just a hair away from reaching its goal of 7,500 signatures. A representative for Spirit Halloween told the New York Daily News that the costume was not a mockery of Jenner.
"Caitlyn Jenner has proven to be the most important real-life superhero of the year, and Spirit Halloween is proud to carry the costume that celebrates her," said Trisha Lombardo.
Not everyone is buying Lombardo's explanation, and the costume has since been pulled from Spirit Halloween's website.
Twitter users also decried the costume. Esquire magazine tweeted: "Don't be that guy with the Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume. Don't."
Maybe because it took Caitlyn 65 years to feel comfortable enough to show us that outfit and now it's being mocked? https://t.co/ij8Xq4o7Cu
— The Gay Burn Book (@SouthernHomo) August 25, 2015Or maybe that Caitlyn Jenner costume is offensive bc trans people are killed everyday and cis people get to wear a costume like nothing?
— The Gay Burn Book (@SouthernHomo) August 25, 2015it's upsetting that people are actually getting Caitlyn Jenner halloween costumes...shes not a costume shes a real person???
— rachel (@motelroses) August 24, 2015There is now a Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume, if you want to lose credibility as a person. http://t.co/37NW1IcQxb pic.twitter.com/30aNW3Uk3P
— someecards (@someecards) August 24, 2015Please Don't Wear The Caitlyn Jenner Costume For Halloween @ItsDanAvery
http://t.co/RuGUX8VUAU pic.twitter.com/tentqYmTcr
— DCHomos (@DCHomos) August 23, 2015Tell @SpiritHalloween we don't need them to carry their @Caitlyn_Jenner Halloween costume http://t.co/OpVCTe0nUn pic.twitter.com/7gsgK3mwcU
— Los Angeles LGBT Ctr (@LALGBTCenter) August 22, 2015The struggle that Caitlyn Jenner has to face isn't a Halloween costume. Whoever made this is a shitty person. pic.twitter.com/dlwP4LJraw
— RXB SPXXRS (@Sonickid1234) August 13, 2015What do you think? Would you be upset if your friend wore this costume?