The mother of a Jeffrey Dahmer victim has been horrified to see costumes of the Milwaukee serial killer currently on sale.
As the spooky season is upon us, the new Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is on everyone’s lips.
However, with the show’s surging popularity, some fans have already begun fashioning Jeffrey Dahmer-inspired costumes, much to the horror of Shirley Hughes.
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Shirley, the mother of Tony Hughes, who was a deaf, non-vocal victim among the 17 young men murdered by Dahmer, told TMZ that it hurts her to see online stores profiting from her son and other victim’s deaths.
She specifically panned eBay for selling Dahmer-inspired costumes and believes the ads should be removed or, at the very least, the profits should be given to the victims’ families.
A spokesperson for eBay has told LADbible they take this matter very seriously.
“Under our disaster and tragedy policy, eBay does not allow the sale of items that portray, glorify or attempt to profit from human tragedy or suffering, or that are insensitive to victims of such events," the statement read.
"Our team is reviewing a number of items listed in relation to Jeffrey Dahmer and will take action where appropriate.”
Shirley Hughes has previously condemned the Netflix show for not contacting the victims’ families and slammed its dramatisation, insisting ‘It didn’t happen that way’.
One of the 10 episodes focuses on Shirley’s son, who was murdered in 1991 at 31.
She told The Guardian: “I don’t see how they can do that.”
The 85-year-old grieving mother added: “I don’t see how they can use our names and put stuff out like that out there.”
However, Shirley is one of many voices that have criticised the series for its fictionalisation of Dahmer's sick and violent killing spree.
The cousin of Dahmer victim Errol Lindsey, Eric Perry, wrote in part: “So when they say they’re doing this ‘with respect to the victims’ or ‘honoring the dignity of the families’, no one contacts them.
“My cousins wake up every few months at this point with a bunch of calls and messages and they know there’s another Dahmer show. It’s cruel.”
So, let these concerns convince you even more to ditch that blonde wig and glasses combo for October 31.
Ever since the show debuted on Netflix, there have been calls from people to avoid dressing up like Dahmer for Halloween.
Some viewers took to Twitter to share their concern at the timing of the popularity surrounding the series, and the potential likelihood of people imitating the serial killer in the name of a popular holiday.
One social media user, Nicole Murray, shared her thoughts on the possibility, writing: “The constant lack of remorse for Dahmer’s victims on social media makes me believe many people are going dress as Jeffery Dahmer and his victims for Halloween and that is so sick.”
“And remember, dressing up as Ted Bundy or any real killer is not the same as dressing up as a fictional slasher,” another Twitter user, @Maumancillaa wrote. “More so with the series that just came out, I don't want to see a f***ing Jeffrey Dahmer on Halloween.”
“White people, do NOT dress up like Jefferey Dahmer for Halloween this year,” a third person, Dee Holt, urged.
A fourth said: “Since it’s officially October I feel like people need to be reminded that serial killers are not Halloween costume.”
Charisa Bossinakis