Marc Beige (third from left) with his two siblings (on left) and co-owners of Rubie’s Costume Co.
(10-22-16) Four hours after posting a blog about Walmart’s Razor Blade Suicide Scar Wound Latex Costume Make Up, the offensive product has been removed from the store’s website.
In an email, to Sarah Noelle Hammond, who first brought this to my attention, the company said:
“This 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 when it was brought to our attention.”
Now, let’s focus on the real culprit: Rubies Costume Company which supplies the other stores. It bills itself as the world’s largest designer, manufacturer and distributor of Halloween costumes and accessories. It also notes that Rubies is a family owned and operated business celebrating 65 years. A quick glance at its online offerings shows a host of other stigmatizing Halloween offerings that marginalize folks, including “psycho” costumes.
The owner of Rubies is Howard Beige who was profiled in a recent article that described the company’s growth from a mom-and-pop shop into a thriving, $100 million mass-market juggernaut with the rise of the Halloween industry. Beige works out of the corporate office at 1770 Walt Whitman Road
Melville, New York 11747. Phone: 516-326-1500. Fax: 631-293-0043. Customer service can be emailed here.
Because Rubies is the biggest supplier, it would be wonderful if mental health advocates could speak to Mr. Beige and his family and persuade him to stop cashing in on stigmatizing costumes that continue to denigrate individuals with mental issues.
Until Rubies stops, other suppliers smaller than Walmart will continue selling these products. For example, Block Buster Costumes and Totally Costumes are still hoping to cash on various suicide related Halloween makeup and prosthetics, using similar photos and illustrations as this deeply offensive one. Buster Costumes has a Facebook page and has a customer service email. Totally Costumes has a customer service email too.
Having Walmart drop a $3.99 cent offensive suicide kit is a first step.
Getting Mr. Beige and his family to stop selling offensive Halloween costumes, and the suicide kit, would be a major leap forward.
Given his company’s strong family values, Mr. Beige should feel ashamed to be pimping such products.
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