People Suck: There’s Now a Caitlyn Jenner Halloween Costume

Since introducing herself to the world as Caitlyn Jenner on the July cover of Vanity Fair, Jenner has capitalized on her privilege and social media presence to shine a much needed spotlight on the transgender community. And while millions have empathized with her struggle, it was only a matter of time until the internet does what it does best, and turned her coming out into a joke. Cue the Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume.

There’s now a Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume and it’s as terrible as you expected http://t.co/R1v7bQsQxP pic.twitter.com/1cQzjNC8Xh

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) August 24, 2015

The $74.99 unisex costume, which is modeled after her Vanity Fair cover shot, includes white shorts, a padded white top, a brown wig, and a pageant sash reading “Call Me Caitlyn,” and is listed on many costume retailers’ sites under the category “humor.” Twitter quickly blew up with people both defending and condemning the costume.  Here are just a few examples below.

@chrisparente @Caitlyn_Jenner @KDVR she’s a celebrity. Almost all celebrities have a costume. Why should she be excluded. = means = — Mario (@Maguirre90) August 21, 2015

@bae_sic If Bruce Jenner can wear a Caitlyn costume, why can’t anyone else? — Maria Sanchez (@nmlinguaphile) August 25, 2015

The 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, 2015

Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costumes are disgusting. Trans people are not a costume for you to laugh at. pic.twitter.com/AumLLeM41U — anna (@nutellaANDpizza) August 25, 2015

If i see anyone in a “Caitlyn Jenner costume” this halloween.. my momma better hold me back.. — steven (@deathofadisco) August 21, 2015

My personal favorite (even though I do not condone any beverage violence):

They’re selling a Caitlyn Jenner costume for Halloween? If I see anyone wearing it I will personally throw hot tea in your disgusting face — Ethan (@EthanPamyu) August 22, 2015

A change.org petition started by Addison Vincent against SpirtHalloween.com, a retailer who carries the costume, begged the site to take down the costume. In the petition Vincent wrote,

Do not turn Cailtyn Jenner into a costume. Your profit will only lead to greater transphobia and marginalization of an already at-risk community.

However, Lisa Barr, senior director of marking at Spirit Halloween responded defending the costume saying,

At Spirit Halloween, we create a wide range of costumes that are often based upon celebrities, public figures, heroes and superheroes. We feel that Caitlyn Jenner is all of the above and that she should be celebrated. The Caitlyn Jenner costume reflects just that.

Spirt Halloween has since taken the costume down from their site, but has given no explanation as to why. However, the negative publicity hasn’t stoped other retailers, from continuing to sell the costume to consumers on sites like AnytimeCostumes.com and WholesaleHalloweenCostumes.com, which sells the getup for only $49.90.

Sadly, the tasteless costume shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. For years Halloween has been used by many as an excuse to culturally appropriate others for laughs. Take blackface for example, which never fails to make a comeback every October, despite all efforts to educate ignorant wearers of its racist history.  It is nice to see people sticking up for Caitlyn and the transgender community, but we shouldn’t forget that other offensive costumes still stock the shelves of some of our most popular Halloween retailers.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.