Walmart is under fire for selling a costume depicting a suicidal action. (Walmart.com)
NEW YORK — Walmart has removed a Halloween costume accessory from its website after it stirred controversy online about suicide.
The retail giant had been selling “razor blade suicide scar wound latex costume make up” online for $3.99. The accessory depicts two cuts and a razor blade in the person’s hand.
Outrage over the costume prompted a Change.org petition to stop Walmart from selling the item.
“This is not just a disgrace to the sensitivity to those who suffer from self-harm, but a shame on Walmart for making light of the situation,” part of the petition read. “This ‘costume’ is real life for many people, many people who are contemplating volumes higher than self-harm. Suicide is not a joke, not a costume, and not funny.”
Several Twitter users also reached out to the company to voice their distaste for the costume.
The petition gained hundreds of signatures before Walmart pulled the item from the online store.
“The costume is appalling and it was unacceptable for a third-party seller to list it on our marketplace. It clearly violated our prohibited items policy and we removed it yesterday morning when it was brought to our attention,” Walmart said in a statement.
