Company Pulls Kim Kardashian Robbery Costume Following Backlash
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An online retailer has pulled a Halloween costume that appeared to make light of the recent jewelry heist involving Kim Kardashian West.
Time reports that the listing for the "Parisian Heist'' costume on Costumeish featured a bound and gagged Kardashian lookalike dressed in a white robe and sporting a giant ring. The listing didn't include Kardashian's name. The costume was being sold for nearly $70.
The company's founder, Jonathon Weeks, told Time that the costume was designed to provoke a strong reaction. He says he didn't want to "make light of a serious situation,'' and added that the company wasn't mocking her.
The costume prompted outrage from some social media users.
Boooo @costumeish. Poor taste with the Parisian Heist Robbery whatever costume. Shame on you.
— Sharon Paz (@sheruns4herlife) October 12, 2016
everyone in your "company" who thought it a good idea should be looking for a job today as well.
— Kathy Cronin (@KathyCronin007) October 11, 2016
@COSTUMEISH The Kim robbery costume is disgusting and disrespectful. SMFH!
— E. (@itsesjohnson) October 11, 2016
The company's Twitter account announced Tuesday the costume had been pulled and apologized if it "offended anyone.''
Due to the extensive out-lash we have decided to remove the "Parisian Heist" costume from our website. We are sorry if it offended anyone.
— COSTUMEISH (@costumeish) October 11, 2016
On Oct. 3, police said armed robbers forced their way into a private residence where the reality TV star was staying, tied her up and stole $10 million worth of jewelry. She was in Paris for fashion week.
After the attack, her husband, Kanye West, abruptly ended his New York concert, announcing that he had a family emergency.
No arrests have been made.
On Tuesday, Kardashian West sued an online media outlet for libel, saying she was wrongly portrayed as a liar and thief after she was attacked in Paris.
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