Posted on 08/25/2004 8:25:22 PM PDT by Nachum
If you attend a Halloween event this year, don't be surprised if you run into a child dressed as a pimp or prostitute, as a California company is selling "Child Pimp & Ho Costumes."
Los Angeles-based Brands On Sale began selling the $40- $60 outfits for children last year, but the company says there wasn't much publicity originally.
Now, the items are a hot topic with word spreading on the Internet.
"I am completely appalled that people would expose children to this disgusting sin by selling or even buying these costumes. It just makes me sick," Heather Church of Haines City, Fla., tells WorldNetDaily. "It makes me sick because it is endorsing this sin as acceptable, and gives exposes innocent children to evil."
Some comments posted among online messageboards include:
"Yikes! I thought that was a joke at first."
"This world is a messed up place. What's next? Four-year-olds dressing like Playboy bunnies?"
"This means little considering how easy it is for kids now days to become desensitized to the vice of society after watching late-night TV."
"Not to be an old square, but that's just not right. Although, come to think of it, I definitely remember trick-or-treating with the Flanigan girls one year when they were dressed up as prostitutes. I was probably 10, which would make them 11 and 12. I can't remember what I was dressed up as that year. Probably a serial killer. I had one of those creepy, clear plastic masks that bank robbers wear. Ah, Halloween. It really is the work of the devil, isn't it?"
"I much prefer the costume featuring the butcher-knife-in-the-head look."
"Kinda gives new meaning to 'trick or treat.'" In the face of the criticism, Brands On Sale costume creator Johnathon Weeks says "we're not telling everyone to buy them," admitting they're for "unique customers."
"If they want, they can purchase a devil costume, or a ghoul or ghost costume – I don't care," he tells WorldNetDaily. "But it does not promote prostitution or sexual exploitation. It's just a costume for kids to dress up and pretend."
Weeks says real pimps these days don't look like the colorful costumes he's selling.
"If you think about a real pimp, they're not in flamboyant suits. Kids don't even know that the word pimp means – regarding soliciting women for sex. They think being 'pimp' means having big, fancy cars and homes."
The dictionary defines "pimp" as a man who acts as an agent for prostitutes and lives off their earnings, while "ho" is a slang synonym for "whore."
But Weeks says television shows like MTV's "Pimp My Ride" and celebrities like Snoop Dogg have made the terms more mainstream and less offensive.
He points out parents, not children, need to approve of the costume purchases, since they have to submit their credit card information.
Even dogs can be pimped up
"The 'Ho' costume is just there for excitement," says Weeks, claiming it looks more like a 1920s-era flapper.
Though less than 500 of the pimp and ho costumes have been sold, 90 percent of them have been shipped to California, New York and Florida.
He says his company, which sells up to 100,000 costumes annually, looks to provide everyone with a chance to dress up.
"We have Jesus costumes, Moses costumes, and coming soon we'll offer the infant pimp."
I want the platform pimp shoes where the platforms are actually fish tanks...
They have the sex braclets to go with the costumes? :'(
Reminds me of the old SNL skit with Dan Akroyd doing his greasy rip-off artist selling 'Bag-O-Glass' as an educational toy. These are the slime-bags that give vigilanteism a good name (and useful purpose).
Disgusting but sadly nothing worse than what elementary kids are wearing to school.
Parents, save yourself some money. Send your kids trick-or-treating in their school clothes.
"Reminds me of the old SNL skit with Dan Akroyd doing his greasy rip-off artist selling 'Bag-O-Glass' as an educational toy"
awww you beat me to it.. good old Irving Mainway and his "Johnny Human Torch" costume.. nothing but a bunch of oily rags and a lighter..
This reminds me of the old SNL routing where Dan Aykroyd's character sold costumes such as "The Invisible Pedestrian" and "The Human Blowtorch" to children for Halloween.
You BOTH beat me to it! That was a hysterical routine!
Abercrombie and Fitch in Trouble Again-Wisconsin Parents Enraged over Thongs for 7-yr. Old Girls
"Heart" Eye Candy - WINK WINK
tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick.....
ok thanks.. my head is officially exploding now...
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
What next crack addict costumes? Next they`ll be marketing DemocRAT costumes, oh the horror!
close....the ones I want have fish tanks in the front and back - taking the shoes about 8 inches off the ground.
(for reference, please see "I'm gonna get you, sucka!")
I think this is actually highly appropriate. For many "educated" in the public school system, these will be the only types of jobs they'll be qualified for when they turn 18 (or earlier, as they drop out). Might as well get used to the trappings of the profession early...
Well, the writing across the butt thing for even 4-year olds I'm sure has created a new pedophile or two... And encourage the look at my arse mentality...
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