Kylie Jenner criticized for throwing a ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ party
Kylie Jenner recently hosted a birthday party for her best friend Anastasia Karanikolaou, but many weren’t too fond of the theme.
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Over the weekend, the beauty mogul threw a bash inspired by the Hulu series "The Handmaid's Tale," which focuses on a dystopian future where women's rights have been stripped away and they are forced to live under a theocratic dictatorship.
Jenner’s home was transformed into Gilead, the fictional setting of the book-turned-show, and partygoers sipped on specialty cocktails named “Praise Be Vodka” and “Under His Eye Tequila.” Her guests also dressed in red capes similar to the garbs worn by the women on the series, who are repeatedly raped and forced to have children for the upper class.
Jenner posted scenes from the event to her Instagram Stories, and critics were quick to condemn her. Several were shocked and called the affair a bad idea.
It’s 2019 and Kylie Jenner is hosting a “Handmaid’s Tale” themed birthday party...SIS... pic.twitter.com/hNUTDDyTp4
— cayley (@cayley_plotkin) June 9, 2019
Women's bodies get policed on a daily, some states are trying to ban abortion, yet Kylie Jenner thought a Handmaid's tale theme party was a good idea pic.twitter.com/W80sm0RMpn
— Ilke Nackerdien (@ilke_zuleika) June 9, 2019
Can someone please reassure me that "Kylie Jenner's Handmaid's Tale–Themed Party" is a phrase I hallucinated on this festering grease trap of a hellsite
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) June 10, 2019
Many questioned whether she understood or had even seen the show. They felt she was ignoring the series’ themes of female oppression.
Kylie Jenner is having a party themed after the Handmaid’s Tale.....so.....who’s gonna tell her that her party is literally celebrating female enslavement for their biological reproduction??
— mirandaaithi (@mirandaaithi) June 9, 2019
WHO IS GOING TO TELL HER
I honestly believe Kylie Jenner did NOT understand The Handmaids Tale if she’s throwing a themed party about it.
— Boss (@Thebossthehoss) June 9, 2019
Wait so... Kylie threw a #HandmaidsTale party and got dressed as a handmaid... does anyone wanna tell her that handmaids are literally raped, stripped of their freedom and treated as cattle??? pic.twitter.com/BZBxOoC1AL
— Maiya (@QveenMai) June 9, 2019
Others called her tone deaf and said her actions were disheartening.
tell me kylie jenner didnt throw her friend a handmaids tale themed party dressed up as handmaids doing duckfaces and have marthas at the door and praised be vodka how can you be THAT tone deaf honestly disgusting at ANY time but ESPECIALLY now. Women's suffering as entertainment
— manic pixie dream feminist (@LAguiarr_) June 9, 2019
So kylie jenner is tone deaf again? Wow pic.twitter.com/buN6paD4MX
— Kellie Adamiok (@kellie_adamiok) June 10, 2019
Kylie Jenner throwing her friend a Handmaid’s Tale themed birthday party complete with robes, Gilead flags, “Praised be” vodka and “Under his eye” tequila is so tone deaf, at any time, but especially when women’s rights and autonomy are particularly under attack. Disheartening.
— Ana María (@anamgom) June 9, 2019
And a few were supportive of the party. Some even said they were “jealous.”
Okay totally convinced @KylieJenner can throw one hell of a party by the looks of her IG story. Whattt handmaids tale theme. Obsessed. Yessss Praise be hunni.
— Justine Nichols (@jtinenichols) June 9, 2019
I’m so jealous of @KylieJenner handmaids tale party it looks soooo FUN!!!!! #praisebe pic.twitter.com/o58Ua3uw0l
— Vanessa Espinoza (@Lovely_nessss) June 9, 2019
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About the Author
Najja Parker is a multimedia journalist covering Black culture for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.
