Cal Gaunt
Olympic gymnast Simon Biles has urged people not to dress up as Jeffrey Dahmer this Halloween.
Biles, 25, has taken to Twitter and slammed the outfits which have become popular following Netflix’s true crime drama Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
The series recently became the streaming platform’s second-most watched English language series of all time.
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The 25-year-old wrote: “I’m just gon [sic] go ahead and say it, put the Jeffrey Dahmer costumes back in the closet.
“We ain’t having it!”
Merchandise and costumes related to Dahmer – who killed and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991 – has been spotted for sale online.
The costumes feature similar glasses to those worn by the killer, short-sleeve shirts and wigs imitating his hairstyle.
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Responding to Biles, one person said: “Dahmer targeted marginalised communities because he knew the police wouldn’t investigate it at the level of straight white men.
“I cannot fathom anyone dressing as him for Halloween.
“It’s so disrespectful to both the Black and Brown gay community.”
A second wrote: “Yes. Nothing funny or entertaining about dressing up as him.”
“Exactly Simone, it’s weird!” another user agreed.
“Omg yes, please. It’s ridiculous that it has to be said,” added a fourth.
eBay has said it saw a surge in costumes depicting Dahmer after the series aired and the retailer has now banned them as it ‘violates the site’s policy’, reports CNN.
On Wednesday (October 19), a spokesperson said the items have been taken down after moderators trawled through listings.
Biles’ sentiments has been echoed by the mother of one of Dahmer’s victims.
Shirley Hughes, the mother of Tony Hughes, who was deaf and killed by Dahmer in 1991, said she was outraged by the Halloween costumes.
She told TMZ: “It’s already super triggering to see a hit Netflix series about the serial killer, much less folks dressing like the killer.”
According to Metro, she also said: “If Netflix hadn’t streamed the show, none of the families would be re-victimised… and then there’d be no Dahmer costumes this year.”
Other victims’ families have slammed the series for ‘re-traumatising’ them too.
The daughter of Errol Lindsey – murdered by Dahmer aged 19 in 1991 – said the show had given her nightmares.
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She told Insider: “Honestly ever since that show’s been on I haven’t been able to sleep…
“I see Jeffrey Dahmer in my sleep.”
Despite its horrific content, many Monster viewers took to Twitter to say they couldn’t help but find Evan Peters ‘hot’ while portraying Dahmer.
The comments sparked significant backlash, with many calling for people to remember his victims.
One person wrote: “Dahmer is out, let’s not romanticise Jeffrey Dahmer just because he is played by Evan Peters. Remember the victims.”
They added: “It’s OK to praise Evan Peters for his performance, he is a brilliant actor.
“But do not romanticise him in the role of Jeffrey Dahmer.”
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