eBay Bans Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween Costume Sales After Popularity Boost From Netflix Series
eBay has banned sales of Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costumes after they received a massive popularity boost from the Netflix series on his life.
The online auction site banned the sale of “murderabilia,” in 2001.
A spokesperson for eBay told CBS MoneyWatch that it banned the sale of all Dahmer paraphernalia as it violates its “violence and violent criminals policy.”
MoneyWatch noted that “specifically, the policy prohibits listings that ‘promote or glorify violence or violent acts, or are associated with individuals who are notorious for committing violent acts,’ and is intended to promote safety while respecting the victims of violent crimes, according to the company.”
TRENDING: THE POLITICAL PRISONER PODCAST: This Week Jake Lang Interviews from His Prison Block
In Netflix’ “Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” the killer is portrayed by American Horror Story’s Evan Peters.
As the show skyrocketed in popularity, so did searches for Halloween costumes of the killer. However, the costume idea has been subject to severe backlash online by those claiming it is insensitive to the victims’ families.
Just a reminder since Halloween is coming up: don’t dress as anything racist and for the love of god PLEASE don’t dress up as Jeffrey dahmer like wtf
— Jackie (@JackieFrankie) October 17, 2022
Twitter not happy with people getting ready to be “Jeffrey Dahmer” for Halloween 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/GXuvF6iz0E
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) October 11, 2022
Shirley Hughes, mother of victim Tony Hughes, had said that she was heartbroken that people were dressing up as her son’s killer for Halloween. TMZ reports that she said “Dahmer was pure evil and doesn’t understand how the folks who choose to dress like him can sleep at night.”
Collectors of serial killer memorabilia have since built an eBay-style website called Murder Auction, where people can purchase art, artifacts, and general merchandise related to famous criminals and cults. There is currently a painting by notorious killer clown John Wayne Gacy listed for $175,000 on the site.
Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of 17 boys and men in 1992 — but was beaten to death two years later.
