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October 7th, 2011
07:26 AM ET
'Sexy anorexia' Halloween costume controversyIt’s hard to imagine a deadly disorder being translated into a Halloween costume, let alone a sexy Halloween costume. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more inappropriate than sexy Cookie Monster, a costume has come along that reaches a whole new level of just plain wrong. Anna Rexia. The Anna Rexia costume features a black bodysuit style dress with a glittery, silk-screened skeleton print, bone headband, heart name tag, measuring tape ribbon belt, and the most shocking accessory of all - a matching measuring tape choker! We're not sure if the costume manufacturer intended for the choker to be a pun. CNN spoke to Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, about the controversy surrounding Anna Rexia. Grefe was disturbed to hear that some retailers had actually sold out of the costume, but she's relieved that some stores are not selling it anymore. "I find it just appalling," said Grefe. "Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and to think that someone that understood an eating disorder would actually buy this costume is an outrage." Grefe said that only someone with a "sick mind" would purchase the costume, likening it to dressing up as a war veteran missing arms and legs or someone afflicted with melanoma. "To me they're all the same," said Grefe, who pointed out that anorexia, like melanoma, is not a choice. "Talk about the ultimate in poor taste. That costume represents a sick perspective on this illness." While the costume is still being sold - albeit by scant few vendors - the manufacturer, Dreamgirl, discontinued it a couple of years ago. Anna Rexia was initially designed back in 2007 and Dreamgirl’s director of marketing, Alicia Brockwell, told CNN that the designer is no longer with the company. “We understand that some people will not find the dark humor funny,” said Brockwell. “Or that they are sensitive to the topic it addresses. We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and would never want to cause harm to anyone. Dreamgirl is a company run by women for women. Halloween is an eccentric and irreverent holiday for people to express themselves in a myriad of ways. While some people may not like a particular costume - it is a matter of taste and personal discretion.” Grefe said that even if the costume was meant to be a joke, it is no laughing matter. "There is absolutely nothing funny about anorexia," continued Grefe. "If you saw an 8-year-old kid on a feeding tube you'd be surprised. Anorexia is not a choice - at all. The wrong people go on a diet, they lose five pounds but they like it too much and they lose another five pounds and lose all sense of reality." Grefe also pointed out the physical consequences of anorexia. "Eating disorders are mental and the consequences are physical," she said, pointing out that related health issues can include early osteoporosis, kidney failure, digestive system ailments, renal disease, and more. "If you're not feeding yourself, you're not feeding your brain and your body - and your body needs the fuel." Grefe also urges anyone with an eating disorder to dial the helpline at 800-931-2237 or visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org Multiple costume retailers have pulled the costume from shelves and online stores amid complaints, but several vendors still carry Anna Rexia – one online description of Anna Rexia includes the phrase “You can never be too rich or too thin.” Another online shop’s description reads, "If Anna Rexia doesn't want to put it in her mouth there is nothing you can say to change her mind. You can stop trying to sell her on the point that there aren't any carbs and it's all protein because Anna Rexia just doesn't want anything to do with it. Make no bones about it this girl is as disciplined as they can get. Anna Rexia costume is anything but bare bones! Costume includes headband, choker neckband, removable ‘Anna Rexia’ badge and ribbon tie belt. If you're starving for attention, this costume will be sure to put you on top of the world." As Eve Vawter from XOJane.com puts it, "Yep, you too could have been a sexy girl with a disease with a super high mortality rate for Halloween." What do you think of Anna Rexia? Let us know in the comments section below.
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I have suffered from an eating disorder for 24 years. I have been in recovery for 2 years, and it still a struggle somedays to make the choice to be healthy. Even though I have a great sense of humor (even a little on the twisted side, sometimes) there is nothing funny about this "costume". I am appalled.
It's not a joke I'd have thought to make, but if there's a chance of scaring some young person away from binging and purging, it might be worth our hurt feelings. Hit them before it becomes a pattern and show them how unattractive being corpse-gaunt actually is.
Then you don't need to buy the costume?
I had a relative who died once, so I'm offended that people would dress up as ghosts for Halloween. See what I did there?
not sure why this matters. they have melted faces....what about burnt victims? they have costumes with masks with a knife in them....what about people who have experienced that? come on now........#1 ppl are dressing as DEAD ppl/demons/ghosts...why be offended with this?
@ Binky42 – Your relative only died ONCE? I can see why you're so upset. 🙂
I have an eating disorder, it almost killed me. My BMI was 15 and I had a few counts of cardiac arrest in the hospital, where I stayed for 3 weeks.
The outfit is funny Its a joke, its a costume. Who really cares? They have fat people costumes, and obesity is an eating disorder or physical defect, right?
Don't know whether to laugh or shudder . . .
Relax people it's a Halloween costume, that's all. No one is forcing you to buy or wear one. Poor taste or not this is not communist China and people are free to do such things. Stand up comedians blast everyone and every issue, including anorexia, nothing is sacred. I doubt anyone is going to suddenly find real anorexia funny or unimportant due to a costume or someone making jokes about it. Find something more important to be concerned about.
Agreed.
I think people are more offended by the name than the costume. I like the costume because it is a costume...
Agreed. Honestly, most jokes that are funny are going to be offensive to someone somewhere. That's part of life. This was done in humor, not in meanness.
100% agree. Kids go out on Halloween as hobos too ... does this mean this practice should stop since it mocks homelessness? We're all just getting too sensitive and as for the anorexia costume, people need to lighten up (pardon the weight pun).
I saw it a few days ago while looking for costumes...I just thought it was a skeleton costume...it never even crossed my mind that it was anything other than that.
I know right? I think it's the name of it that's pi$$ing people off.
What is the difference between this and a costume named " Timmy the Tumor" or "The Headless Man?" I mean, in my opinion, those are two pretty serious conditions. The great thing about halloween, especially among adults, is that people can joke and not get offended. If this seriously offends you that deeply, you are either A) entirely too sensitive or B) entirely too politically correct. Lighten up people.
Is being headless a condition?
lol @ Mark
@ Mark — Everyone sees, and even works with headless people everyday; however they do have heads, they are just shoved up their asses.
yes, headlessness is an often overlooked disorder that effects thousands. It is an often fatal and always embarrassing condition. Halloween is just a time I have to get through.
That is how you describe them? Really? Of all the descriptive words in the american language, re tar ded and g ay were your best choices? Keep up the hard work buddy, you'll have your GED soon enough.
Costumes keep getting lamer and lamer each year.
There is nothing funny about this. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any other mental disease. Would you consider a costume of a cancer patient hooked up to chemo funny? It's not.....so much pain for those enduring this illness, as well as their loved ones. Just because "others are doing it" (laughing about it), doesn't mean that we aren't responsible for ourselves--we are morally responsible as individuals to stop laughing and encourage others to do the same. David, I can say for certain that if you had someone, a loved one in your life, who you cared about, struggling with an eating disorder........that YOU too, would be concerned about it.
1 – go to home depot. 2 – buy some lumber. 3 – build a bridge. 4 – get over it. If ti offends you, DON'T BUY IT! Quit trying to make everyone feel the same way you do about the issues that make you sad. I DO know people with Anorexia and I do not sit around feeling sorry for them and making excuses for her. Some things in life have to be dealt with and you cannot be shielded all your life from the things that make you all weepy. Don't put your outrage into my lap and expect me to jump in lock step with you, to do so is to far overstate your importance in the world.
I agree with Bill C. It's a costume. I have strugled with Eating Disorders my whole life and I still didn't mind this costume. People are becoming way too PC. There are hundreds of costumes every year that make people cringe, one becoming a headline is ridiculous. I feel sorry for the store pressured into not selling it. And look at the model wearing it! She is curvy, not close to anorexic, it's meant as a light hearted joke. If you take offense, then just don't buy it.
Do you yell at little children in ghost costumes too?
"DEATH IS NOT FUNNY!!!!"
Yes, costumes are sometimes meant to be funny, but often they are meant to be scary (or mock scary).
Are you equally offended by the Fat Lady costumes? Overeating is an eating disorder too, but no one cares if someone dresses up as an obese person. Double standard.
Go eat a Twinkie and calm down. Sheesh.
Actually, I think schizophrenia is first. But anorexia is close.
I actually suffer from Anorexia, and as disturbing as this costume is, it's just a costume. It speaks nothing badly about me or anyone else that has this disease. It just goes to show you how misinformed this nation is when it comes to disorders like this.
Well said, Kyli. It would be different if this costume were a body stocking with a very thin woman printed on it. But it just looks like a skeleton. Pretty lame costume, actually.
I would imagine that for every costume that has ever been worn, there is someone out there that would be offended by it. People spend way too much time trying to find things that are offensive to them.
The last time I checked, we all still have the freedom of speech and expression in this country....so, if you don't like what others have to say that's just to bad. You don't have the right to make others conform to your way of thinking. Maybe everybody should live in a box with no windows or doors, we would never have to worry about saying or doing something "offensive" or "inappropriate"
by the way...that chick is HOT in that costume!!!!!
Which adds a good point: if this costume really was supposed to portray an anorexic, there would be no boobs to speak of. The model shown here is HUGE.
I wonder if this was inspired by fat suits. The costume itself is lame. It is just the name and fail theme using a measuring tape. Total lack of creativity!
Since when has 'being in good taste' been a prerequisite for, of all things, a Halloween costume?
Alright,people are ridiculous, this costume means nothing and people are taking this way too far. They make fat costumes don't they? So why can't they make skinny people costumes?
Really...who cares? People wear fat suits for Halloween. Anorexia is such a miniscule problem compared to the heart disease and diabetes that is killing most Americans. If little girls want to starve themselves, then let them. There are bigger fish to fry in this country then worrying about people who are dumb enough to starve themselves. Darwin....
you really are an idiot.
these girls are sick
Your ignorance is unbelievable. Perhaps you should not comment on something you obviously know nothing about. If it were someone close to you suffering or lost their life to anorexia you would have a different opinion.
I don't think you read the article. People with EDs do not want to starve themselves...they desire perfection and/or escape from other pains they cannot control. And also, heart disease and diabetes are mainly caused by food choices.
I dressed up as Hitler once. Scariest costume ever!
You like the mustache and you won't cut it off so you like to pretend to be Hitler. It's ok, I bet s3x with the boyfriend is great when you guys roll play.
although the name might be in poor taste, It is essentially a skeleton dress.. the same as a black bodysuit would be a skeleton costume for a man.. I dont see the issue.. other than to write an article to shed light on the "Alarming" statistics surrounding eatingdisorders... its no worse than a package of Garbage Pail kids.
Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association- "Talk about the ultimate in poor taste." no pun intended...
People need to seriously lighten up. The whole point of halloween costumes is gallows humor. This costume is perfectly appropriate. If you don't approve, don't buy it.
Funny that you used the term "lighten up" in reference to an anorexia costume. Dark pun.
QQMOAR ZOMG ZEES EEZ SO OFFENSIVEZ WHERE ARE THE WESTBORO BAPTISTS WHEN YOU NEED THEM?
I've suffered from anorexia for years (I am now better) and I find this the least bit offensive.. Honestly, lighten up!
Take off the name tag and you have a skeleton costume with a yellow belt. Big Deal. Chill out, people.
You wouldn't say that if you lost someone to anorexia.
I agree with Nick. If not for the costume's name (which doesn't appear on the costume itself) it wouldn't be apparent what the costume was intended to be. Even with the measuring tape, it requires a bit of explanation. Bottom line, this is Halloween, a time where we dress up to be scary or funny and go collect candy from strangers or have some drinks at a themed party. There's always something that will offend someone; we're becoming an oversensitive society who can't handle a bit of dark humor. I'd rather find the humorous side of things than waste my time being miserable and hateful like some of the commenters on here. Lighten up! It's not as though the costume features a haggard woman with an IV in her arm, clinging to life, all skin and bones, wearing a sign that says "Anorexia Is For Idiots!" It's a silly skeleton dress that pokes a bit of fun at a disease. Learn to laugh at yourselves, people, you'll live longer!
@almost died: I know someone who died from anorexia; but guess what? My sense of humor didn't die with her. Time for you to hop off your high horse.
I think it`s a great costume, a disorder like that is scarey, isn`t that the point of halloween? If young girls and boys saw being so obnoxiously and dangerously thin as bad and scarey, maybe they`d think and feel better about themselves and their shape/weight. Of course there is not controversial article going on about fat suits with parachute sized underwear here, and a lot of peopleblaugh at that. Just my personal oppinion
This is meant to be a joke, for sure. Get a life!
You wouldn't say that if you lost someone to anorexia. So you get a life and a sense of decency.
RELAX, Almost Died. This costume wasn't manufactured to personally attack you and/or your family and loved ones. Take a deep breath and calm down. You're getting mad at a few pieces of cloth with a silly name that's being sold in a minute amount of shops for Halloween. Is it worth it?
It's a skeleton costume. If I hadn't seen the "name" of the costume, I wouldn't have even known that it was supposed to be about an eating disorder.
Replace "anorexia" with "skeleton" and nobody would even notice.
Whenever I read an article like this I am reminded that "No matter what you are doing, there is someone, somewhere, who will find a way to take it much too seriously". This costume is obviously a joke, not an endorsement of an eating disorder. And it's for a holiday which is itself supposed to be scary. Lighten up people!
When you are old enough to discover girls, you will begin to see the point of it again. Don't worry, you won't be twelve forever.
As someone who almost lost her life due to a 25 year battle with anorexia, and has known women who lost their lives to this disease, I am utterly disgusted. Not to mention offended. Anyone who finds this even mildy amusing has obviously not been touched by the devastation of eating disorders.
I helped my cousin through her years of dealing with the disease as well as finally overcoming it. I think the costume earns a giggle. Why be offended? It's a freaking costume!
Get over yourself and eat a Snickers already!
Wrong! I've been 'touched' – people with eating disorders are controlling, manipulative, and frankly hard to be around. I know it is part of the disease. I also think the costume is hilarious. Feel free to be offended. I'm going to feel free to find it funny.
Hey spud, I'll put this in terms even you might be able to understand: YOU ARE AN ASS.
It's a COSTUME people, get over it.
When I shop for a Halloween costume, this is exactly what I look for. Something innappropriate, and distasteful. That's what Halloween is all about. Get over yourselves. People dress up as drunks. Drinking is a disease that kills too. I suppose nobody should dress like that either. You can't apply your perfect little PC world to Halloween. Doesn't pass the smell test. Get a life...
You wouldn't say that if your mother, sister, wife, daughter, girlfriend or friend had died from anorexia. Many of us have. And no, it is not funny to dress up as a drunk and I have not lost anyone to alcoholism. I'm just a kind, considerate person. So you get a life you inconsiderate jerk.
@BackAtYa: You are a "kind and considerate" person who calls people who disagree you "jerks"? Really? Does that even sound as though it might be right?
Halloween costumes are meant to be scary, maybe they were trying to scare women away from anorexia.
Please remember to close your mouth when it rains.
As a person with an eating disorder, I am not appalled by the costume. I think this is a good way to think of it in a completely different way; like turning the table on it and having the opportunity to laugh at it, rather than feel scared and uncertain. And yes, it's good to have publicity...so many people don't acknowledge how difficult and prevalent it is.
Why are people upset about this? Its a custom, who cares.
It's because these people just want pity.
Am I the only one who sees nothing objectionable with the cookie monster costume?
Anyway, this costume is disgusting, however the attention it is getting can only serve to drive up the profits.
I think it's kinda hot!
It would be funny if they sold it in a 4x, lol
You've won this discussion
It's just a freaking costume for crying out loud. Some people are offended by this costume, and some other people are offended by the whole concept of Halloween. If it's not for you, then avoid it.
Amy, yours is the best comment so far, Plus Size Anne Rexia
So the "i have a relative who died once' ghost comparison is not exactly apt. A comparable costume would be a schizophrenic costume, a bipolar costume, or a clinical depression costume and I think all would be offensive.
What Halloween costume wouldn't be offensive to someone? People need to get over themselves and stop being killjoys.
I'd bang the Anna Rexia model in the picture silly. Hey are those fun bags part of the costume?
Purchased separately unfortunatly
OMG!!! people! it's a halloween costume! chill out please! and get a life! the people who mentioned the fat suit costumes are totally right. I am not anorexic, but have always been accused of being so. the fat suit are just as offensive and look at the hillbilly costumes, horrible stereo types here. point is, it's halloween. People are always finding new costumes. I had someone very close to me die of anorexia and it does not offend me. *almost died*... you need to stop. there are people you are talking to that have had people close to them die and you are incinuating that they dont care. chill out. again i say chill out. do i need to say it again?? chill out people!! it's halloween!!!
Thank you!
You're telling others to "chill out" when you've used more exclamation points than should be permitted by law, Amber?
By the way, it's "insinuate". Try to do better before you get on that high horse of yours.
Tom, Tom,.... Spell check really..... chill out!!!
What about the bipolar bear costume? Is that not funny?
Hel-efing-larious
It's just another mental illness, and they all get poked fun at. While they are serious, no laughing matter, no matter if you laugh. Sometimes having a since of humor about things helps you through.
Mel Brooks truly could not make Blazing Saddles or Airplane in today's PC world... get a funny bone people, don't take life so seriously, none of us are going to survive
If you don't like it, don't buy it. If it doesn't sell, they won't keep making it for years and years. If it does sell, so what? Plenty of Halloween costumes are "offensive"; if you find it overly offensive, then you probably aren't running in the social circles that would buy it in the first place.
I went to the store tonight and there was a whole rack of "fat" costumes, from "Fat Redneck" to "Sumo" to "Fat Lady"....I'm sorry, but I don't see the difference. There are plenty of overweight people that are that way because of medication, or a physical illness (medication for seizures causes terrible weight gain, as do meds for depression). This costume isn't even creative. It's just a skeleton with a tape measure around the waist. Much more fuss is being made about it than it deserves, or stop being a hypocrite and get rid of all those other costumes too.
The fact this is even an option for a costume is appalling. This is a serious condition and to poke fun at it doesn't do anything to help those affected, it's actually more likely to make it a lot worse.
And to those comparing this to ghost costumes and the like, get some intelligence. It is no way comparable to things that are common in our past and modern mythology. When have you ever heard or seen a popular story about anorexia?
And to those basically saying "if you don't like it, don't buy it", you apparently haven't had experience with eating disorders, directly or watched someone you care about go through it.
My sister has struggled with bulimia since she was in 7th grade, she is now 33, I'm 5 years younger than her so I grew up around this illness. But ya know, I really like this costume, it's a skeleton costume, had it been named something else, no one would have cared. Yay for hot skeletons
Oh, wah, wah wah!!!!!
Spare me the cry baby rants about 'struggling with my disorder' or the rest of the narcissistic victimization nonsense....
Choosing to drink, overeat, not eat, shoot heroin, or cut yourself to get attention is just that -A CHOICE- you're not a victim. You're an idiot. As far as the costume/halloween thing, it is what is it is. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't like it? DON"T BUY IIT....