Dahmer: Monsters: The Story of Jeffrey Dahmer became an unexpected hit for Netflix in September. Apparently, many viewers wanted to be inspired by the true crime series for a Halloween costume. The online retailer Ebay has now responded to the criticism of such disguises: All Jeffrey Dahmer costumes should be removed from the platform.
Ebay told tmz.com that the company’s policy prohibits listing products that glorify hate, violence or criminal activity. That’s why the products were removed. eBay constantly monitors listings for policy violations.
Previously, the platform featured blonde wigs and glasses based on the well-recognizable look of Jeffrey Dahmer in the series (played by Evan Peters). Such disguises were not only criticized as insensitive on social media. Families of victims of the serial killer also expressed criticism. The mother of a 31-year-old man killed by Dahmer told tmz it’s “sorry” that not only Netflix but online businesses are benefiting from her son’s death.
US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer killed a total of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. In 1992 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, in 1994 a fellow inmate beat him to death. The Netflix series about Dahmer has previously met with criticism from his victims’ families for bringing the traumatizing events back into the public eye. There was also criticism that Netflix initially sorted the series under the LGBTQ tag.