Halloween is a holiday in which people normally dress as serial-killing clowns, human blood-slurping vampires, and murdered celebrities, and no one blinks an eye. But apparently cultural appropriation is just going too far.
— Jenna Abrams (@Jenn_Abrams) October 7, 2016
This year, a men’s costume of an “Arab,” modeled by a white male wearing makeup to make his skin appear darker, and a “sexy Saudi burka Islamic costume” have currently spawned the most righteous indignation.
Online retailer Amazon pulled the sexy burka costume, after being flooded with complaints, though other similar variations remain available.
“You're all disgusting racists. My culture is not your costume,” one outraged user wrote, placing a single star in their review.
— Cheapsuits (@cheapsuits) October 7, 2016
“Whoever you are fear Allah. It's not a joke,” another intoned, textually.
Amazon responded to the anger with a statement explaining their selling guidelines, and adding that the sexy burka costume apparently violated them.
“All Marketplace sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who don't will be subject to action including potential removal of their account. The product in question is no longer available,” the statement read.
Last year the group set their sights on a Caitlyn Jenner Vanity Fair costume, this year they are focused on several, including Native American, “Dia de los Muertos” outfits, and, of course, the big bad burka.
“The tastefulness of these costumes is certainly up for debate, but is spamming misleading reviews to an impartial website really the best way to get a point across?” William Hicks of Heat Street pondered.
