eBay has officially banned the sale of Halloween costumes based on US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer after controversy grew online.
The 'Milwaukee Cannibal' became the subject of popular Netflix miniseries Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story earlier this year, which has now become one of the platform's most successful shows of all time.
Over 56 million people have people tuned in to watch Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story since its release at the end of September, reports Collider.
But internet users have since expressed their outrage after outfits modelled on the serial killer, who claimed the lives of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, appeared online in time for Halloween.
An eBay spokesperson has now confirmed costumes based on Dahmer are being removed from the site due to violating its policy on violence.
The website's policy states: "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 search term 'Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costume' on eBay now returns the result 'no exact matches found'.
However, Birmingham Live reports that a similar blond-haired 'Adult Prisoner Fancy Dress Costume with Glasses and Wig' was still available for purchase as of Wednesday evening.
Costumes inspired by Dahmer usually feature the murderer's signature 70s-style aviator glasses, as well as an orange convict boiler suit.
Dahmer, who is played by Evan Peters in the Netflix miniseries, was often pictured wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a white T-shirt.
But Shirley Hughes, the 85-year-old mother of victim Tony Hughes told TMZ it was "triggering" to see retailers now selling costumes of the killer’s likeness.
Social media users also came out against the controversial costume, calling the decision to dress up as the cannibal "disgusting."
One person tweeted: "I can’t believe people are dressing up as Jeffrey Dahmer for Halloween. Just plain evil and sick in the head…the lack of empathy, morals, and values is absolutely disgusting."
Reacting to the news of the banning, one person said: "What weirdo would wanna buy that anyway?"
