Amazon has removed a coronavirus Halloween mask apparently made and sold by a Chinese firm. The item was advertised under the names “Corona Halloween Mask” and “Corona Latex Horror Mask,” and was up for sale on the company’s UK e-commerce site for £14.59 ($18.90). It was said to ship from a company called YTFU EU in Guangdong.
- The masks have been branded “hugely distasteful.” Given that more than 40,000 Brits alone have died of COVID-19, selling Halloween masks that make light of a very serious illness hasn’t sat well with many people. “These masks show a terrible lapse of judgment by the manufacturers and sellers, and I hope they will be removed from sale quickly,” Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, told The Sun. “I’ve no doubt the great majority of people will find them hugely distasteful, and I can’t imagine that many people would wish to wear one.”
- More than a million people have died worldwide. While many would point out that there are other illnesses that have killed more people than the novel coronavirus, the fact that it has killed more than a million people around the world in less than a year and is continuing to spread is scary and sad. Yes, people should “lighten up,” but try telling that to someone who has lost a loved one to this illness.
- Amazon removed the masks after receiving complaints. “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account,” said an Amazon spokesperson. “We are removing this product.”
- No doubt these masks will pop up elsewhere soon. A quick Amazon search no longer yields a result for the product, and perhaps there’s a chance that these didn’t actually exist and were more of a sick prank. Either way, this likely isn’t the end we’ve heard of these.
