Company Removes Sexy “Handmaid’s Tale” Costumes After Widespread Outrage

The show depicts a world where sexual slavery is built into society.

A view of an art installation, designed by Paula Scher and Abbott Miller, and book giveaway celebrating Hulu's 'The Handmaid's Tale' on April 26, 2017 in New York City. The company Yandy recently apologized and took down from its online store a widely-criticized sexualized version of the outfit. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hulu)
A view of an art installation, designed by Paula Scher and Abbott Miller, and book giveaway celebrating Hulu's 'The Handmaid's Tale' on April 26, 2017 in New York City. The company Yandy recently apologized and took down from its online store a widely-criticized sexualized version of the outfit. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hulu)
Getty Images for Hulu

The lingerie brand Yandy has removed from its online store a controversial sexualized The Handmaid’s Tale Halloween costume and has issued an apology after a wave of horrified responses to the outfit. The company, which specializes in making such eroticized costumes based on mainstream topics, was widely slammed for making light of a show that has sexual slavery as its central theme.

Yandy was selling what it called a “Brave Red Maiden” outfit for $65. The backlash against the outfit on Twitter focused not only on the profiting off of a show in which women’s sexuality is systematically exploited, but also the fact that the outfits have become a symbol of protest for women fighting oppression internationally.

“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,” read the company’s apology, which also drew criticism.

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