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Asda 'mental patient' costume withdrawn from sale online | Asda 'mental patient' costume withdrawn from sale online |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Supermarket chain Asda has apologised and withdrawn a Halloween outfit it was selling online as a "mental patient fancy dress costume", after criticism. | Supermarket chain Asda has apologised and withdrawn a Halloween outfit it was selling online as a "mental patient fancy dress costume", after criticism. |
The £20 item included clothing, fake blood, a mask and a fake meat cleaver. | The £20 item included clothing, fake blood, a mask and a fake meat cleaver. |
Following criticism, including from one "stunned" mental health charity, the store offered "sincere apologies for the offence it has caused". | Following criticism, including from one "stunned" mental health charity, the store offered "sincere apologies for the offence it has caused". |
It would be making a "very sizeable donation" to mental health charity Mind, Asda added. | It would be making a "very sizeable donation" to mental health charity Mind, Asda added. |
In a statement on Wednesday evening, Asda, which is owned by US retail giant Walmart, said the sale had been a "completely unacceptable error". | |
"[The costume] should never have been sold and it was withdrawn as soon as it was brought to our attention." | "[The costume] should never have been sold and it was withdrawn as soon as it was brought to our attention." |
Asda added: "We're deeply sorry one of our fancy dress costumes has upset people." | Asda added: "We're deeply sorry one of our fancy dress costumes has upset people." |
It is understood the costume had been on sale through Asda's clothing outlet George for two days, before being withdrawn from sale on Wednesday morning after being spotted internally. | It is understood the costume had been on sale through Asda's clothing outlet George for two days, before being withdrawn from sale on Wednesday morning after being spotted internally. |
Asda said the product had been removed from the website in the afternoon but the relevant page remained visible for a few hours. | Asda said the product had been removed from the website in the afternoon but the relevant page remained visible for a few hours. |
It disappeared after the criticism on Twitter started to emerge. | It disappeared after the criticism on Twitter started to emerge. |
'Frightened of stigma' | 'Frightened of stigma' |
Katie Dalton, of Welsh mental health charity Gofal, wrote on Twitter: "Dear @asda, how on earth did you come to the conclusion that this is an appropriate fancy dress costume? Disgraceful." | Katie Dalton, of Welsh mental health charity Gofal, wrote on Twitter: "Dear @asda, how on earth did you come to the conclusion that this is an appropriate fancy dress costume? Disgraceful." |
And former Downing Street director of communications, Alastair Campbell, who has written about his experiences with mental health issues, tweeted: "Look what Asda's selling... what possesses these people?" | And former Downing Street director of communications, Alastair Campbell, who has written about his experiences with mental health issues, tweeted: "Look what Asda's selling... what possesses these people?" |
Former footballer Stan Collymore, who has had a well-documented battle with depression, also criticised Asda for using a "stereotype". | Former footballer Stan Collymore, who has had a well-documented battle with depression, also criticised Asda for using a "stereotype". |
"Do you actually realise how many people are hanging themselves because of being frightened of the stigma?" he tweeted. | "Do you actually realise how many people are hanging themselves because of being frightened of the stigma?" he tweeted. |
The charity Rethink Mental Illness also took to Twitter to say it was "stunned" by the costume's description, but later thanked Asda "for responding" to the "concerns". | The charity Rethink Mental Illness also took to Twitter to say it was "stunned" by the costume's description, but later thanked Asda "for responding" to the "concerns". |
In a statement, Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, also welcomed Asda's decision to withdraw the outfit. | |
She said the costume "could only serve to reinforce prejudice and misperceptions of mental illness, leaving those already struggling with mental health problems more lonely and excluded". | |
The internet link to the website page where the costume was being sold used the words "zombie fancy dress costume". | The internet link to the website page where the costume was being sold used the words "zombie fancy dress costume". |
But the product was titled "mental patient fancy dress costume" on the page itself. | But the product was titled "mental patient fancy dress costume" on the page itself. |
The product details read: "Everyone will be running away from you in fear in this mental patient fancy dress costume.... it's a terrifying Halloween option." | The product details read: "Everyone will be running away from you in fear in this mental patient fancy dress costume.... it's a terrifying Halloween option." |