Kylie Jenner Threw a "Disturbing" 'Handmaid's Tale' Party for Her BFF
Kylie Jenner threw a Handmaid's Tale-themed party for one of her best friends, Anastasia Karanikolaou, over the weekend.
The party included bonnets and robes worn by the characters in the show, as well as costumed servers and Gilead posters.
Spectators on Twitter found the party disturbing and tone-deaf considering the show's premise-women forced into sexual servitude-and its chilling relevance in today's political climate.
Kylie Jenner knows how to throw a themed party, but she might've taken it too far this time. The 21-year-old beauty mogul honored her friend Anastasia "Stassie" Karanikolaou with an elaborate party inspired by The Handmaid's Tale over the weekend. Some fans, however, were put off by the celebration.
The hit Hulu series, adapted from the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, takes place in the totalitarian state of Gilead, where women are raped and forced to give birth to children who will be raised by high-ranking officials and their wives.
According to footage on Jenner's Instagram Story, which has now expired but was captured by fan accounts, her party for Karanikolaou included Handmaid robes (complete with a signature white bonnet and red cape) for guests, Gilead posters, and servers who dressed as Marthas, or female housekeepers. Pictures from the party showed Jenner, Karanikolaou, and even pal Sofia Richie posing and taking selfies in the robes.
.@KylieJenner is throwing a #HandmaidsTale themed birthday party for BFF @stassiebabypic.twitter.com/KjtnjAbt3M
- Realizing Stuff with Kara and Ryan (@realizing_stuff) June 9, 2019
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A post shared by Kylie Jenner News (@kyliesnapchat) on Jun 8, 2019 at 7:26pm PDT
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Kylie Jenner’s best friend aka stassibaby having a handmaids tale theme birthday party.....Margaret Atwood could have never imagined pic.twitter.com/ym7d4VLl7u
- MJT (@meganjeaux) June 9, 2019
It's not uncommon for people to wear the Handmaid robes in real life. Protestors and activists have donned them at rallies and even the Senate floor to make a point about how certain laws challenge women's autonomy. But co-opting the outfits as fun party costumes? Seems like crossing the line.
Jenner received backlash from a number of online users who called the party "disturbing," "disgusting," and "tone-deaf." Some even assumed Kylie didn't read the book or watch the show if she used the premise as a theme for a birthday celebration. As critics pointed out, the function is especially alarming as it arrives at a time when women's reproductive rights are being attacked in real life, making The Handmaid's Tale all the more relevant.
Kylie Jenner is having a Handmaids Tale themed birthday party and Justin Bieber wants to fight Tom Cruise and boy howdy is that meteor late
- Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) June 10, 2019
I’m screaming!!! How and why did Kylie Jenner have a handmaids tale party and manage to hypersexualize the freaking red robes -THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MARGARET ATWOOD WANTED
- g (@gilltraino) June 9, 2019
Not that I had any before but @KylieJenner just lost all of my respect and business. The Handmaids Tale is not a joke or laughing matter. It is about the rape & oppression of women and it is happening right now in America. I have never witnessed this level of ignorance in my life
- Leah Michael (@isleahmichael13) June 9, 2019
Uhhhhhhh Kylie Jenner hosting a Handmaids Tale themed party when the rest of us are literally living in a women hating theocracy government feels uhhhhh tone deaf as fuck? pic.twitter.com/JN2s0HFfao
- Katie (@KatiePetZim) June 9, 2019
Who wants to be the one to explain Handmaids tale to Kylie Jenner
- Shanzé (@ShanzeOmair) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner is having a handmaids tale themed party? pic.twitter.com/dhcP3ze3JI
- Amanda Orr (@amandakokesh) June 9, 2019
Am I the only one completely grossed out that Kylie Jenner is throwing a handmaids tale party...? Also am I really surprised
- Devon (@devonrose23) June 9, 2019
I’m not one to call out celebrities because I truly believe that cyber bullying (in ANY form) is so harmful no matter who it is, but Kylie Jenner having a Handmaids Tale themed party just romanticizes a dark future we could legitimately be facing
- Emily Auger (@emilykatharine) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner throwing a Handmaids Tale party is very very disturbing I don’t like that it’s a no for me sis
- Veronica (@veronicacrz) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner holding a Handmaids Tale themed birthday for her friend Stass makes me uncomfortable.
- hera (@herakiwikiwi) June 9, 2019
I'm sorry, did @KylieJenner even watch #HandMaidsTale? IT'S NOT CUTE 👏👏👏 IT'S NOT STYLE 👏👏👏 IT'S NOT FUN 👏👏👏 and it SURE AS HELL isn't a party. pic.twitter.com/e7IYoZdjZf
- Jess the Mess (@Jessica_Lane_) June 9, 2019
But why is Kylie Jenner having a handmaids tale party... she does realize it’s about rape & oppression... right?
- christina (@tinatheweina) June 9, 2019
I’m legitimately DISTURBED that Kylie Jenner threw a Handmaids Tale themed party for her friend. Do they realise the show is about female oppression and rape???? Jesus Christ.
- Shona Ellen (@EllieJayden) June 9, 2019
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
Kylie Jenner threw a fucking Handmaids Tale party where the staff dressed as Marthas and her and her guests dressed as Handmaids..... like ... does she even know what the show is about? I am SPEECHLESS @KylieJenner
- supreme succtress (@beveyhills) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner out here throwing a Handmaids Tale themed party while women's rights are under threat daily pic.twitter.com/OfvR2n44Cf
- C. (@aprica56) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner and her friends had Handmaids Tale themed party and even wore the outfits.... pic.twitter.com/Ul2z8rfAXM
- Fellatio Del Toro (@jessiikohl) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner threw a 'handmaids tale' themed party because she loved the show? Then surely she would understand the depth of the subject and pick a different show without such a deep context. The ignorance and privilege JUMPED out.
- Libby-mae (@Notnowfailure) June 9, 2019
Does @KylieJenner know that #HandmaidsTale was about oppression and rape. @MargaretAtwood would be disgusted by this. Handmaids are not a fashion icon they are the women who have a uniform to fight and throw down the men in charge. pic.twitter.com/9oEm6QLZok
- Harvi Bhullar (@Harvi_Bhullar97) June 9, 2019
First Kylie Jenner promotes walnut facial scrubs and now she's holding Handmaids Tale themed parties.
I've been begging for God to send the flood. I've been ready for all of us to be wiped out.
But for real though. What is wrong with her?- Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) June 10, 2019
Kylie Jenner hosting a handmaids tale themed party like........how do you miss the point by that much........can someone please tell me.......how you can just watch that show and be like oh looks like fun !
- Fun Gab (@gabbypiela) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner’s ‘handmaids tale’ themed party is very.... pic.twitter.com/XwVSOV9Pl6
- lucy thee stallion (@super__freaky) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner throwing a “handmaids tale” birthday party theme is so disturbing
- Brooke olivia🌙 (@brookeoliveaa) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner threw her friend a handmaids tale themed birthday party and I just...... pic.twitter.com/NtuSYSWYw5
- Megan (@meganprusi) June 9, 2019
is anyone gonna tell Kylie Jenner her Handmaids Tale themed party was fucked up or ???????
- nooch (@vanessap42) June 9, 2019
kylie jenner having a handmaids tale themed party is so disgusting like does she not realize they are meant to be slaves or something ??
- sophie (@pIayhisace) June 9, 2019
I don’t know how I feel about Kylie Jenner having a handmaids tale themed party for her friend Stassi. Like it’s a great show but Gilead is not a place I would ever ever want to be in. Plus with our current government, like it’s all fun and games until it becomes our reality.
- truthteasis (@truthteasis2) June 9, 2019
kylie jenner really gave her friend a handmaids tale themed birthday party we have lost the plot
- britt (@brittseegers) June 9, 2019
Kylie hasn't publicly responded to the uproar, but some of her fans defended her on social media, saying Jenner threw the themed fête because her friend is such a fan of the series.
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