Pop-up Halloween retailer Spirit Halloween faced controversy when a holiday product offended some customers.
According to the Norfolk, Virginia based Wavy TVCustomers complained that the retailer was selling the punk rock “bullet belt” accessory as part of a “prep school” costume online and in stores as recently as last week. A photo taken by WAVY reporter Keegan Hughes at one of Spirit Halloween's Virginia Beach locations showed a spiked bracelet, plaid school girl tie and other accessories on the same display.
A gold bullet belt was selling for $9.99, while a punk rock bullet belt was selling for $14.99 online, the outlet reported.
Some buyers found the product distasteful, as it was sold as part of student attire in the wake of school shootings across the country.
“I don't like it,” one shopper told WAVY. “I have three kids that go to school, and I just heard about the shootings that happened. And it's scary, even though it's a costume. Still, it's not (that). They shouldn't be making fun of these shootings and guns and stuff. It's a big deal.”
Another mother named Vanessa said she didn't think the upset over the costume accessories was an exaggeration.
“I know people always say that everyone is so sensitive,” she said, “but it's really not like that, because there's so many kids dying because of school shootings, and you're putting that into school-like costumes. Like, that's so weird to me.”
Earlier this month, a 14-year-old student shot and killed four people at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia.
Spirit Halloween did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The retailer told WAVY's 10 On Your Side that the outfit is simply a punk rock accessory.
“It was never our intention for this product or its placement in the store to be viewed as anything other than a punk rock accessory. We thank you for bringing this to our attention.”
The product appears to have been removed from the retailer's website. It is no longer visible Under Searches for “bullet belt”, “punk rock” or “belt”.
