The Deacon's Bench
I don’t remember much public anxiety about Halloween costumes that might offend Catholics—like, say, this one or this one.
But there’s now controversy brewing over reports of a Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume, with some fretting it might be considered “insensitive”:
Halloween probably isn’t the best time to deal with an incredibly sensitive subject like gender reassignment. But that hasn’t deterred a major company from conjuring up a Caitlyn Jenner costume in time for Oct. 31.
Spirit Halloween, the company behind the pop-up costume stores that appear all over the city every fall, has exclusively confirmed to Confidenti@l that it will be carrying the insensitive getup this year.
We had heard scuttlebutt about the nationwide chain planning to cash in on the Olympic hero and Kardashian step-parent’s decision to come out as a transsexual woman earlier this year.
“Of course!” said the company’s PR and marketing head, Trisha Lombardo, when we asked about the rumors. “Caitlyn Jenner has proven to be the most important real-life superhero of the year, and Spirit Halloween is proud to carry the costume that celebrates her.”
She added that the company would not be able to reveal any details about the look until the merchandise goes on sale in four to six weeks.
Jenner’s rep, Alan Nierob, declined to comment.
We had been told there was something of a heated discussion among company insiders about whether the costume would be appropriate. But despite any misgivings, the outfit will hit the shelves nationwide come spooky season.
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