It seems Spirit Halloween has found itself in the middle of a Halloween controversy this year, all thanks to one costume accessory: a “punk rock” bullet belt. The Norfolk, Virginia-based news outlet WAVY TV reported that some customers were outraged after the retailer displayed the bullet belt as part of a “prep school” costume, sparking criticism that the product was not only in bad taste but also highly inappropriate given the tragic reality of school shootings in America.
The accessory, selling for $14.99 online, was featured alongside other punk rock-themed items like spiked bracelets and plaid schoolgirl ties. A cheaper version, a gold bullet belt, was available for $9.99. The issue wasn’t necessarily the belt itself—let’s be honest, bullet belts have been a staple of rock and punk fashion for decades—but the fact that it was being marketed as part of a student costume. With school shootings becoming all too common, many shoppers felt that associating bullet imagery with a “prep school” look was tone-deaf and disturbing.
One shopper, a mother of three school-aged children, voiced her concern to WAVY. She remarked, “I don’t like it. I have three children that go to school, and I just heard about the shooting that just happened. And it’s scary, even though it’s a costume. Regardless, that’s just not [it]. They shouldn’t be making fun of these shootings and guns and stuff. It is a big deal.” It’s hard to argue with that sentiment. In a country where school shootings tragically happen all too often, the imagery of bullets on a student costume can hit a little too close to home.
Another mother named Vanessa shared her frustration, dismissing the common criticism that “everyone’s too sensitive.” She argued that, given the real-world implications of school shootings, outrage over the costume accessory was far from an overreaction. “A lot of children are dying because of the school shootings, and you’re putting it where the school-like outfits are at. Like, that’s just wild to me,” she said. For parents across the country, it’s not hard to see why bullet belts marketed alongside school costumes could be viewed as distasteful and tone-deaf.
Spirit Halloween criticized over bullet belt placed in prep school costume section https://t.co/aPFu9NVonR pic.twitter.com/Qcj7c7KQpb
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) September 18, 2024
What makes the timing of this controversy even more troubling is the recent tragedy in Georgia. Just earlier this month, a 14-year-old student fatally shot four people at Apalachee High School in Barrow County. With such horrors making headlines, Spirit Halloween’s decision to sell a bullet belt as part of a student costume seemed to many like a lapse in judgment.
In response to the criticism, Spirit Halloween told WAVY that the product was intended purely as a punk rock accessory, stating, “It was not our intention for this product or its placement in the store to be viewed in any way other than a punk rock accessory. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.” The retailer has since pulled the product from its website, as it no longer appears in searches for “bullet belt” or “punk rock belt.”
While it’s not uncommon for Halloween costumes to push the envelope, this particular product struck a nerve. In a time when school shootings are a constant concern for parents, any association between bullets and students is bound to raise eyebrows. Spirit Halloween might have had no ill intent, but this misstep is a reminder that even in the world of Halloween costumes, context matters.
