Lingerie retailer Yandy has pulled a costume inspired by the Hulu series “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The show, based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, is set in a dystopian future where fertile women are forced into sexual slavery.
Since “The Handmaid’s Tale” is copyrighted, the costume was named the “Brave Red Maiden” but nobody was fooled. After some serious backlash, the company pulled the plug on the distasteful get up. The following message has been swapped for the offensive costume on their website:
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. This is unfortunate, as it was not our intention on any level. Our initial inspiration to create the piece was through witnessing its use in recent months as a powerful protest image.
Given the sincere, heartfelt response, supported by numerous personal stories we’ve received, we are removing the costume from our site.
The costume’s initial description didn’t sound anything like female empowerment. It read, “An upsetting dystopian future has emerged where women no longer have a say. However, we say be bold and speak your mind in this exclusive Brave Red Maiden costume featuring a red mini dress, a matching cloak with an attached hood, and a white bonnet headpiece.”
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Social media was quick to point out that women can be empowered without flaunting sexual oppression.
How tone deaf does one have to be to think this makes any sense? Have you….watched/read Handmaids Tale? Did you miss the point of it? pic.twitter.com/GX6lQRjbEx
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/JessicaValenti/status/1042931440755781633
https://twitter.com/Jack_McInally/status/1043130361201532928
[h/t Business Insider]
