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Retail Therapy: The 5 most offensive Halloween costumes retailers recalled this year

Following social media backlash, Wal-Mart, Amazon and others have been clearing their virtual shelves of some off-color costumes ahead of Halloween.

Published Oct. 27, 2016
By
Reporter
Flickr, Nomadic Lass

Don't have a Halloween costume yet? Then you're one beat behind Burger King.

One of the fast food chain's Miami restaurants dressed up as the ghost of rival chain McDonald's in a Halloween prank this week. The chain released a video of confused customers reacting to a sign that reads: ""Booooooo! Just kidding, we still flame grill our burgers. Happy Halloween." 

But if you're still on the hunt for a costume to rival Burger King's, we advise you to stay far away from the list of controversial outfits that retailers have pulled off shelves as the holiday approaches. From health advocates to LGBTQ activists, many consumers took to social media to roast retailers for a wide range of distasteful costumes.

This, and more, in this week's Retail Therapy.

The 5 worst Halloween costumes retailers have recalled this year

1. Parisian heist robbery victim

Despite its label, it's pretty easy to see that this costume is playing off Kim Kardashian's real-life robbery: Earlier this month, thieves held the celebrity hostage in a Paris apartment and stole $10 million worth of jewelry. Many consumers took to Twitter to say "too soon," grilling e-retailer Costumeish for the $69.99 outfit.

2. Suicide scar makeup kit

Wal-Mart got into hot water for off-color Halloween makeup that resembles self-inflicted razor slashes across an arm. Some health advocates and consumers argue the product makes light of self-harm and mental illness. The retailer pulled the item (which retailed for $3.99) from its website, stating that it was "appalling" and "unacceptable" for a third-party seller to list it on their marketplace.

3. Sexy Saudi burka costume

E-commerce goliath Amazon was flooded with complaints earlier this month asking the company to remove a religiously-insensitive costume from its marketplace. An organization called "Do Something" even began offering a $1,500 prize for people who repeatedly copied and pasted bad reviews in the comments sections of this costume and others, Heat Street reported. The same organization campaigned against an offensive Caitlyn Jenner costume that sparked an uproar from the transgender community last year.

4. Moana costume

Media giant Disney pulled an offensive boys costume resembling a Polynesian character from one of its latest movies, "Moana." Some Pacific Islanders likened the costume to blackface and lashed out at the company on social media, USA Today reported.

5. Tranny granny costume

Wal-Mart recently caught flak for another third party product — only this one drew the ire of the LGBTQ community. Activists and individuals took to Twitter to spurn the retailer for putting a "Tranny granny" costume on its website. While Wal-Mart pulled the product, several others retailers simply changed the name to "Manny Granny" and continued to sell the same kit.

So this is what happens when you destroy an Apple store

Not everyone is an iPhone person, and that's OK. But apparently there's one guy in France who hates Apple more than everyone.

Last month, a video went viral of one incredibly unhappy French consumer losing his cool in an Apple store in Dijon. In the video, the man walks around the store shouting and smashing iPhones and other products one by one. At the end of the video, the man is seen being escorted out of the store by mall security.

While his tantrum was over, his punishment certainly was not: The angry man earned a 6-month suspended jail sentence, up to two years of probation, and a $327 fine, Fortune reported.

Get it together, Apple — this is exactly why we need customer service chatbots.

Target should really pay this couple

This week, a West Virginia couple commemorated one year of marriage with a photoshoot at their favorite retailer: Target. 

Corey and Lauren Rexroad recreated their wedding photos by posing with shopping carts in a Target parking lot, in the food court with Target popcorn, and even with the retailer's signature mascot, Bullseye (a porcelain bull terrier, of course).

“A lot of people thought we were actually getting married in Target,” Lauren told USA Today. “They thought we were completely crazy.”

Right, because that would be crazy.

A West Virginia couple celebrates their anniversary with a Target photoshoot.
Callie Lindsey Photography
 

Counterfeit Kylie Jenner products come with a sticky surprise

Established retail brands aren't the only ones experiencing issues with counterfeit products on online marketplaces. 

Kylie Jenner, the reality TV show sidekick turned social media maven turned cosmetics entrepreneur, took to Snapchat this week to warn her customers of fake Kylie Cosmetics products being sold by other websites and third party sellers on eBay.

In the videos, she claims some customers discovered glue in the products and accidently semi-glued their lips shut while testing the counterfeit lip kit. Others told her they found gasoline as an ingredient in the knock-off products.

Jenner advised her fan base to stay far away from the "dangerous" products and only purchase authentic beauty products from her website.

Filed Under: Consumer Trends

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