Kylie Jenner is being criticised for throwing a “tone-deaf” Handmaid’s Tale-themed birthday party.
Over the weekend, the beauty mogul celebrated her friend Anastasia “Stassie” Karanikolaou’s 22nd birthday with a party inspired by the dystopian Margaret Atwood novel and the Hulu TV show of the same name.
Instagram videos and photos show Jenner and her guests embraced the theme by wearing handmaid’s costumes of red capes and white bonnets and drinking cocktails with names such as “praise be vodka” and “under his eye tequila”.
The 21-year-old also decorated her home to resemble Gilead, the fictional setting of the 1985 novel, in which women who are still able to reproduce are forced to give birth to repopulate the declining population.
“The Handmaid’s Tale is my favourite show ever, so for Stas’s birthday, welcome to Gilead! Get your outfit,” Jenner can be heard saying in a video of the party.
In response to Jenner’s theme, the reality star has faced backlash, with some people questioning whether she understands what The Handmaid’s Tale is actually about, with others saying her choice was “disturbing”.
“Kylie Jenner throwing her friend a Handmaid’s Tale-themed birthday party complete with robes, Gilead flags, ‘Praised be’ vodka and ‘Under his eye’ tequila is so tone-deaf, at any time, but especially when women’s rights and autonomy are particularly under attack,” one person wrote. “Disheartening.”
Another said: “Kylie Jenner is having a party themed after the Handmaid’s Tale… so… who’s gonna tell her that her party is literally celebrating female enslavement for their biological reproduction?? WHO IS GOING TO TELL HER.”
Someone else said the reality star’s decision to throw a Handmaid’s Tale-themed party was “insulting” considering the handmaid’s outfit has become a symbol of protest against laws controlling women’s reproductive rights, with activists wearing the outfit at pro-choice rallies around the country.
“This privilege and ignorance is gross,” they added on Twitter.
As of now, Jenner has not addressed the backlash.
