Walmart pulls ‘suicide scar’ costume after online outrage

The season of retailers pulling offensive, ill-timed and tasteless costumes from shelves continues.

This time Walmart is removing one that calls itself “Razor Blade Suicide Scar Wound Latex Costume Make Up.”

In case the $3.99 item’s name doesn’t describe it sufficiently, there’s definitely a photo:

Wal-Mart scraps 'Suicide Scar' Halloween makeup kit amid outrage https://t.co/5UOMFngB5f http://pic.twitter.com/ShhSrchaCN

— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) October 24, 2016

The retail chain’s Facebook and Twitter accounts were peppered with social media users—many of whom are parents—expressing outrage. Messages such as this were plentiful:

Hi Walmart, I would like to know which part of this is a suitable costume for anyone. Self harm isn't a "scary costume" for all to wear :-) http://pic.twitter.com/BLRpSXGY0J

— t i f f (@tiffxxc) October 24, 2016

An online petition was started as well. It gained more than 600 signatures before Walmart pulled the product.

The company issued this mea culpa:

This costume is appalling and it was unacceptable for a third-party seller to list it on our marketplace. It clearly violated our prohibited items policy and we removed it when it was brought to our attention.

This isn’t the first time Walmart has had to apologize for appearing to sell an item that a third party offered through the company’s Marketplace. A quick Google search of the term “Walmart apologizes marketplace” reveals a “fat girl” costume, an “Islamic Halloween costume” and a “Decorative Poster of Nazis’ Dachau Camp.”

Walmart’s response follows other mea culpas issued by brand managers who have misstepped this Halloween season.

Already this year, Disney apologized and pulled a costume from its movie “Moana” that many deemed racist, a Kim Kardashian robbery costume was yanked and Home Depot pulled a “Scary Peeper Creeper” decoration from its Canadian stores.

(Image via)

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