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'How far is this going to reach?' Jeffrey Dahmer costume ban on eBay

Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys in the US from 1978 until his arrest in 1991
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.26 21 Oct 2022


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'How far is this going to reac...

'How far is this going to reach?' Jeffrey Dahmer costume ban on eBay

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

16.26 21 Oct 2022


Share this article


A ban on costumes that 'promote or glorify violence towards humans or animals' is raising eyebrows.

Online selling site eBay is cracking down on sellers attempting to make money on the back of the success of the Netflix series, 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story'.

Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys in the US from 1978 until his arrest in 1991.

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An eBay spokesperson said costumes inspired by the serial killer, and his likeness, are being removed under its Violence and Violent Criminal Policy.

This means sellers cannot list items that promote or glorify violence towards humans or animals, or items "closely associated with or that benefit violent felons, their acts, or crime scenes within the past 100 years".

Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer. Evan Peters as Jeffrey Dahmer. Picture by: Netflix

Eimear from the 'Because You Were Home' podcast told Lunchtime Live the ban is the right thing to do.

"I think it's still so resonant in people's minds; it was 30 years ago that he was only caught and imprisoned for it," she said.

"I looked this up: there aren't, in costume shops, really any real-life serial killer costumes.

"The only one I could find was Jack the Ripper, and that's almost more of a persona.

Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer makes his initial court appearance in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in July 1991. Dahmer was wearing the shirt of one of his 17 victims. Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer makes his initial court appearance in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in July 1991. Dahmer was wearing the shirt of one of his 17 victims. Picture by: REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo

"How far is this going to reach? Is this going to get to the stage now where, even from horror films, that you can't wear because they're so violent.

"I wonder what the cut-off point [is], but at the same time I do completely understand why wanting to dress as Jeffrey Dahmer is a bit excessive.

"Especially in America, where you have family members of the victims still around."

'Stick to the joke'

She said Halloween is meant to be about fun, not bad memories.

"I see how for them it's very raw, but at the same time, I do think Halloween is for fun and for scares," she said.

"Perhaps not too 'on your doorstep' scares, but I do think it should be about fun, it shouldn't be about bringing a horrible memory back to people."

Eimear said she believes a line is now being drawn with this ban.

"I understand it in the sense of true-life serial killers.

"If you're going to do a serial killer, stick to the joke one, where you're just wearing a load of cereal boxes on a plain outfit.

"That's fun, that's a joke - but I also think that Halloween, to me, is fantasy.

"So, stick with made-up characters, horror characters from films," she added.

Main image: Jeffrey Dahmer is pictured following his arrest in Milwaukee in August 1982. Picture by: ARCHIVIO GBB / Alamy Stock Photo

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Because You Were Home Podcast Costume Ban Ebay Jeffrey Dahmer Lunchtime Live Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Netflix

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