Caitlyn Jenner halloween-themed costume for sale on Amazon attacked by transgender charities
The £30 "I am Cait" costume features a brunette wig, a sports top and shorts and two plastic Olympic medals Credit: Triangle News
Telegraph Reporters
23 October 2018 • 4:16pm
A halloween-themed Caitlyn Jenner costume sold an Amazon has been attacked by transgender charities.
The £30 "I am Cait" costume, which features a brunette wig, a sports top and shorts and two plastic Olympic medals, has been withdrawn from eBay but has remained for sale on Amazon over the last few days.
But transgender charities have called for its immediate removal, saying it is laughing at those who are born in the wrong body.
Caitlyn Jenner - formerly known as Bruce Jenner - shot to fame in 1976 when he won an Olympic medal in the Men's Decathlon Competition.
But he shocked the world when he split with wife Kris Jenner in 2014 and then announced a year later that he was to become a woman. The 68-year-old athlete had full sex reassignment surgery in January 2017.
The costume, which is promoted with the caption "Show your love for Caitlyn Jenner with this awesome adult costume" have sparked a backlash amongst transgender advocates, including national charity Stonewall, who called for it to be removed from Amazon.
A spokesman said: "'This is a reminder of how much is left to do to combat the abuse trans people face every day.
"This costume reduces a marginalised group to the butt of a joke. It should be taken off the shelves."
Dr Jane Hamlin, president of the Beaumont Society, a support group in the UK for the transgender community, added: "The transgender community has been getting quite a battering in the media recently because we would like to have autonomy over our own identities.
A Caitlyn Jenner-themed Halloween costume has been slammed by charities for making an "insensitive mockery" of transgender people Credit: Triangle News
"We have become accustomed to insensitive mockery, but had hoped that cisgender people had become tired of such stunts and realised that it is not funny.
"No-one chooses to be trans. I am disappointed that anyone would want to sell this, and hope that no-one will want to buy it."
However, reviewers who bought the costume defended it. One said: "You all rave about how inspiring she is... she has the courage to do it all... what a powerful public figure she is.... WHY is it so offensive that people want to dress as a public figure?"
The ensemble was also available on eBay - where it was shown on a mannequin wearing makeup and donning a long brunette wig - but has since been pulled following an outcry.
On the popular auction website, the 'I am Cait' costume had sold 40 times and was only available in men's sizes.
Following its removal, a spokesman apologised, adding: "This item is absolutely not permitted and the seller will be contacted directly."
Amazon have not responded to requests for comment.