Illegal Alien Costumes Spark Controversy

[Don]

I remember the striped prison uniforms and fake ball and chain from my childhood, but apparently making fun (http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/17/illegal.immigrant.costume/index.html) of lawbreakers is no longer politically correct.

Immigrant rights activists are calling on U.S. retailers to stop selling two controversial "Illegal Alien" costumes that have surfaced for Halloween, saying the outfits are a broadside attack on illegal immigrants.

The "Illegal Alien Adult Costume," manufactured by Forum novelties, includes an orange jumpsuit, similar to prison garb, with "Illegal Alien" stamped in black across the chest; a space alien mask; and a fake Green Card. The "Illegal Alien Mask with Hat" also includes a space alien mask, this time with a dark handlebar mustache and a baseball cap.

Picture at the link.
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[MattW]

Funny, but only because of the controversy. If there was no buzz, I'd think "meh, another lame costume." It's not as if they dress the orange jumpsuit with sombreros, prop tacos, and a bag of oranges.

If anyone has a valid complaint about how they are portrayed on Halloween, it's the pimps and players of the world...

[escritora]

I voted for it's not funny.

[aadams73]

A Halloween costume should be cool and/or funny. This is just lame and quite dull.

[jennontheisland]

The green card is a cute touch.

Bad pun for a Halloween costume = mildly funny. I have friends who dressed all in green and went as gangrene. get it???? gang! green!!! har.

[Wayne K]

The green card is a cute touch.

Bad pun for a Halloween costume = mildly funny. I have friends who dressed all in green and went as gangrene. get it???? gang! green!!! har.
:e2paperba This is how their fans are going to dress if they lose to Buffalo.

[jennontheisland]

:e2paperba This is how their fans are going to dress if they lose to Buffalo.
I don't get it.

[Wayne K]

Gang Green is what we call the New Jersey Jets.

[jennontheisland]

New Jersey has Jets. Who knew.

[Albedo]

Funny, cos that's what I picture when I hear Americans talk about 'illegal aliens' anyway. We don't use the term 'alien' to refer to non-citizens here.

[Wayne K]

I think politician when I see the orange prison jumpsuit.

[Cella]

I voted not funny.

Too bad "stupid" wasn't an option :D

[CACTUSWENDY]

I'm with SK on this one. That's what I thought of also...the ones from space. Guess great minds think alike....right SK?
;)

[Williebee]

It's a little amusing. Certainly not a new joke. I didn't see the new version of "The Day The Earth Stood Still". Did they make Keanu Reeves get a green card?

[Zoombie]

Political correctness, now that I think about it, is a natural outgrowth of the availability of free speech and free flow of information .

That is, what we say is more free, and GETS TO MORE PEOPLE, so the chances that someone will be butthurt over what we say gets bigger and bigger, so that leads to people wanting to not butthurt those that get butthurt, which leads to them self censoring!

Also the costume is kinda lame.

[Williebee]

What if it had been an A.V.P. Alien or Predator mask?

Your reason for visiting our planet sir?
Eat you.
Very well, do you have anything to declare?
Snarflesnarfle snap gulp. Need ketchup.


My point being, if they'd oversold the pop culture reference a bit more, would it be less offensive?

[Cyia]

I'm pretty sure there was an illegal alien joke or two in Men in Black.

I know there were some in that old series 3rd Rock from the Sun.

I know there were some in that really old series Mork and Mindy.

In the last two, they revolved around the aliens' misunderstanding of the term "illegal aliens" when applied to foreign nationals (probably even involved green cards). So... not exactly new material here.

Is there seriously not enough going on in the world that someone has to manufacture a controversy?

[jennontheisland]

Some people just like jumping up and down and will take any excuse to do it.

[Kitty Pryde]

It's not funny, but it's not offensive. It's playing off a tired pun, not minimizing the plight of illegal immigrants.

I am certain there are easily 10 more offensive costumes lurking in any Halloween store in any state in the US. Including but not limited to: rasta hat with dreadlocks built into it, "orthodox jew" wig with long forelocks, child-size slutty fairy costume, child-size French Maid costume, and child-size slutty witch costume. Four years ago in a Walmart I spotted an "Asian Guy" costume that came with a half-mask depicting a top-knot, eyes squinted shut, AND ENORMOUS FRONT TEETH.

(In Target's defense, they don't have any slutty kid costumes this year (though they did last year), which is nice.)

[Kaiser-Kun]

If it requires a political background to be funny, it's not a good joke.

[jennontheisland]

Depends on what kind of parties you go to.

[Kaiser-Kun]

Depends on what kind of parties you go to.

I'd be scared of a party where this costume results hilarious.

[Cella]

what's the point of a costume that makes you go "oh, huh." ?
Doesn't seem worth the effort IMO.

[veinglory]

It's a pun costume and seems fine to me. As a nonresident alien I would find it pretty fun to dress up with an alien mask and hankercheif on a stick.

[Kaiser-Kun]

"What are you, an alien?"
"No... an illegal alien!"

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[semilargeintestine]

What's the giant, obnoxious red thing?

[Kaiser-Kun]

What's the giant, obnoxious red thing?

A rimshot button designed to enhance puns.

[Zoombie]

Personally, I'd prefer a slutty French maid outfit.

...not a kid, but on a teen and up girl.

[AZ_Dawn]

I am certain there are easily 10 more offensive costumes lurking in any Halloween store in any state in the US. Including but not limited to: rasta hat with dreadlocks built into it, "orthodox jew" wig with long forelocks, child-size slutty fairy costume, child-size French Maid costume, and child-size slutty witch costume. Four years ago in a Walmart I spotted an "Asian Guy" costume that came with a half-mask depicting a top-knot, eyes squinted shut, AND ENORMOUS FRONT TEETH.
Add the Tequila Pop Dude to that list. (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/men%27s/funny/tequila+pop+dude+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSelle rs&page=5) The cheesy Hollywood bandito style could be fun, but the props are worse than unfortunate. :eek:

Oh, and in case the Scotmen feel left out of the Unfortunate Implications Fest, check out the Big Shot Scott (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/men%27s/funny/big+shot+scott+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSellers&page=5).

[MattW]

Personally, I'd prefer a slutty French maid outfit.

...not a kid, but on a teen and up girl.
beware the illusion of the French Maid costume. It can distract from many things with the temptation of long legs, including, but not limited to butterface.

[Kitty Pryde]

Add the Tequila Pop Dude to that list. (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/men%27s/funny/tequila+pop+dude+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSelle rs&page=5) The cheesy Hollywood bandito style could be fun, but the props are worse than unfortunate. :eek:

Oh, and in case the Scotmen feel left out of the Unfortunate Implications Fest, check out the Big Shot Scott (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/men%27s/funny/big+shot+scott+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSellers&page=5).

WOW. I wonder if they have an entire aisle devoted to Alcoholism-Themed Outlandish Ethnic Stereotypes...

[MattW]

WOW. I wonder if they have an entire aisle devoted to Alcoholism-Themed Outlandish Ethnic Stereotypes...I believe it's called the "Halloween Costume" aisle.

[AZ_Dawn]

WOW. I wonder if they have an entire aisle devoted to Alcoholism-Themed Outlandish Ethnic Stereotypes...
They had them listed under Humor. Go figure.

I was bit surprised there were no Irish with booze costumes. Then I double-checked the women's section. (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/women%27s/sexy/lucky+charm+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSellers&page=15) :e2smack:

And here's Sexy Shooter (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/women%27s/sexy/sexy+shooter+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSellers&page=9), the female edition of Tequila Pop Dude. At least the Lucky Charm costume doesn't come with the beer prop!

And to think that the advocacy groups decided to get het up over the Illegal Alien.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Immigrant rights activists are calling on U.S. retailers to stop selling two controversial "Illegal Alien" costumes that have surfaced for Halloween, saying the outfits are a broadside attack on illegal immigrants.

Um... so? I'm supposed to care about the feelings of criminals?

[Jcomp]

It's a pun. Of course it's funny...

[backslashbaby]

The mustache and ball cap are a bit much :rolleyes: Many of the illegals I know wear suits to work, actually. Or scrubs. Oh, and I don't like the illegal part, but I love the people.

It's not in good taste, but Kitty's links pretty much covers my view. And I liked the old pun when it was new :) I think Sting did it first that I remember.

[robeiae]

Personally, I'd prefer a slutty French maid outfit.
I'm sure you'd look fetching.

Anyway, a friend of mine dressed up--in 2005--by covering himself with McDonald's, Burger King, and Subway wrappers, then wearing a big "Vote" button.

He was an enfranchised voter...

[Jersey Chick]

I voted not funny, only because I think it's stupid. I'll keep my opinion on what I think of those who are offended by it to myself, though. But you can probably guess what that opinion is. ;)

[Fran]

Oh, and in case the Scotmen feel left out of the Unfortunate Implications Fest, check out the Big Shot Scott (http://www.partycity.com/product/costumes+%26+accessories/men%27s/funny/big+shot+scott+costume+adult.do?sortby=bestSellers&page=5).

I hope he's wearing the right tartan. I've never seen anyone dressed like that in my life, but at least they haven't made him ginger. Then it would just be a complete stereotype. ;)

I worked in a party shop over Halloween a couple of years ago and the costumes some people wanted for their little girls were frightening. Betty Boop for a three-year-old? Wha? And no illegal immigrant costumes because our government says we've only got twelve. They won't stand still so they're hard to count. But I think when you've seen a costume that allowed the wearer to dress up as a shit, it's hard to get offended by this.

[StephanieFox]

If it requires a political background to be funny, it's not a good joke.

That depends where you wear the costume. A male friend of mine once showed up at a synagogue Purim costume party dressed as a well known female rabbi from another synagogue. Very funny because everyone was in the know. No one was offended, including the rabbi.

[History_Chick]

I voted funny. But mostly because people are getting their knickers in a knot over the whole PC bullshit that this country seems obsessed with.

[AZ_Dawn]

I hope he's wearing the right tartan. I've never seen anyone dressed like that in my life, but at least they haven't made him ginger. Then it would just be a complete stereotype. ;)
To be fair, at least they didn't pose him next to a woman in a sheep costume. :scared:


But I think when you've seen a costume that allowed the wearer to dress up as a shit, it's hard to get offended by this.

:eek:

:flag:

[Kaiser-Kun]

Can I make a very quick reminder that "illegal immigrant" and "mexican" aren't synonyms? Just as a caution.

I'd be offended if the costume tried to portray all mexicans as illegals, but as it is, it just seems like a mediocre joke at best...

[AMCrenshaw]

i like puns, but pun-as-costume is just LAME!

[Wayne K]

I didn't vote not funny because people are offended by it, I voted not funny because it's not funny. Offensive humor can be very funny, this isn't. It stinks.

[Diana Hignutt]

Gang Green is what we call the New Jersey Jets.

Dude, they're the New York Jets. Read their helmets. We, the People of New Jersey don't want them or their frickin Giant cousins. They might play in NJ, but they're officially NYC and the Big Apple can have them.

[Jersey Chick]

Um... some of us want the Giants.

even if they suck

the Jets can leave though. I'm okay with that. :D

[Diana Hignutt]

Um... some of us want the Giants.

even if they suck

the Jets can leave though. I'm okay with that. :D

Cursed North Jerseyeans...

[Wayne K]

Dude, they're the New York Jets. Read their helmets. We, the People of New Jersey don't want them or their frickin Giant cousins. They might play in NJ, but they're officially NYC and the Big Apple can have them.
Watch your tongue or we'll send you the Knicks :D

[Abraham]

Not funny, and not offensive. Maybe if it were offensive it would be more funny.