Featured Image Credit: Netflix. ebay
Topics: Crime, Halloween, News, True crime, Netflix
Rachel Lang
eBay is banning the sale of any costumes related to Jefferey Dahmer following the release of the Netflix series about the serial killer's crimes.
The e-commerce juggernaut confirmed that it will prevent customers from purchasing any items related to Dahmer as it violates their violent criminals policy.
An eBay spokesperson confirmed to The Daily News that all Dahmer-related items are now in the process of being removed.
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The digital marketplace has a policy that prohibits 'items closely associated with or that benefit violent felons, their acts, or crime scenes within the past 100 years'.
eBay's user agreement reads: "Listings that promote or glorify violence or violent acts, or are associated with individuals who are notorious for committing violent acts, are not allowed."
The site said it employs this policy 'out of respect for victims of violent crimes'.
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The site also claims to promote safety, trust, and respect within its marketplace.
The move comes after the mother of a Jeffrey Dahmer victim revealed her heartbreak at seeing costumes of the Milwaukee serial killer on sale.
With Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story surging in popularity, so to have the costumes in the lead up to Halloween.
Shirley Hughes, the mother of Tony Hughes, who was a deaf, non-vocal victim among the 17 young men murdered by Dahmer, told TMZ that it hurts her to see online stores profiting from her son and other victims' deaths.
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She specifically panned eBay for selling Dahmer-inspired costumes and believes the ads should be removed or, at the very least, the profits should be given to the victims’ families.
"When it first happened, I thought I would lose my mind,” Ms Hughes said.
She told TMZ that 'if Netflix hadn’t streamed the show, none of the families would be re-victimised... and then there’d be no Dahmer costumes this year'.
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She added that Dahmer was 'pure evil' and wondered how people who choose to dress up like the infamous serial killer can sleep at night.
Dahmer was convicted of killing 17 boys and young men in 1992, with some of his kills involving cannibalism and necrophilia.
While at large, his horror crime spree saw Dahmer referred to as the 'Milwaukee Cannibal' or the 'Milwaukee Monster' by the press.
He was beaten to death in a Wisconsin prison in 1994 while serving 15 life sentences for his crimes.
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The 10-part Netflix series ranks as the second most-viewed English series of all time.
The show racked up a massive 701.37 million hours viewed.