Kylie Jenner, youngest of the Kardashian crew, is facing serious backlash from the internet after throwing a Handmaid’s Tale-themed birthday party.
When Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale first debuted in 1989, we hardly doubt the author ever thought her novel depicting a dystopian society that stripped women of their rights would be a birthday party theme. Worse? A birthday party theme for a privileged reality star turned makeup mogul.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened over the weekend and the culprit behind this ill-thought-out party theme is Kylie Jenner.
With the heaviest of sighs, let’s get to what exactly went down.
The Kardashian/Jenner family (or should we say empire? you know what, nevermind) are known for throwing over-the-top parties. From luxe baby showers to detailed baby birthday parties, we’ll at least give the K-crew this — they know how to put on an event. Now, whether these events always make sense or are appropriate is another discussion, entirely.
Kylie Jenner’s latest party venture happened over the weekend, all to celebrate her best friend Stassie turning 22. The theme for this birthday party? Kylie’s favorite show at the moment — The Handmaid’s Tale.
We’ll let that simmer for a minute.
Details for the party included staff dressed as Marthas, Kylie Jenner’s house decorated with Gilead flags, and cocktails themed after phrases from the novel and now popular Hulu show. Who wouldn’t want an “Under His Eye Tequila,” right? Right?
As one Twitter user put it — who wants to explain to Kylie what The Handmaid’s Tale is about?
Little refresher — The Handmaid’s Tale is absolutely not something you use as a theme for any sort of celebration. Atwood’s novel describes a society where women have everything taken from them — their individuality, their names, their freedom. If you’re fertile, you’re forced to reproduce by means of rape. If you resist, you’re shipped off to clean up radioactive waste or killed outright.
Thanks to Hulu’s adaptation of the book, The Handmaid’s Tale is being consumed by a modern audience. The show has furthered Atwood’s storyline, all while eerily connecting plot points to today’s own issues with women’s rights.
In many ways, the show and novel serve as warning signs of what could happen if women’s rights are stripped slowly over time. It’s really not an overstatement to say we’re inching towards that now, with several states eyeing to knock out Roe v. Wade via abortion bans.
Getting back to the party Kylie Jenner threw, one just has to look at pictures of her Handmaid’s Tale selfies compared to photos of female protestors dressed as handmaids standing outside government buildings to see why this really should not have happened.
As of this article, Kylie Jenner has yet to comment on the backlash over her party. If there’s one thing she, and anyone else who thinks this was a solid idea, can learn — if you have to think twice about it, perhaps don’t do it?
What do you think of Kylie Jenner’s decision to throw a Handmaid’s Tale party? Let us know in the comments below.