Walmart appears to have removed a controversial World War II-era German soldier Halloween costume from its website after public criticism, a day after Newsweek reported the item was still available despite being pulled by other major retailers.
The outfit, made by Orion Costumes and sold as a “German Army Soldier Adult Costume,” had previously been listed on Amazon, Target and Walmart. By Tuesday morning, however, Newsweek found that the item had already been removed from Amazon, while Walmart continued to offer it through a third-party seller.
Newsweek contacted Walmart, Amazon, Target and Orion Costumes for comment on Tuesday about the product and its availability. None of the companies responded to requests for comment.
A day later, Newsweek found the Walmart listing was no longer available, meaning all three retailers that had previously offered the costume have removed it from sale.
At the time it was listed on Walmart’s website, the costume was described as a “vintage-themed” outfit inspired by the 1940s and included a jacket, trousers with boot covers, a belt and a hat. Images accompanying the listing showed a uniform resembling those worn by German military forces during World War II, along with photos of the model with a German flag behind.
Walmart has not said why the product was removed, and it is unclear whether the decision was made by the retailer, the third-party seller or Orion Costumes.
Newsweek has contacted Walmart to ask about the reasons for the removal.
Walmart Has Faced Halloween Costume Controversies Before
The costume’s removal is not the first time Walmart has found itself at the center of controversy over Halloween merchandise.
In 2015, the retailer removed a set of Halloween costume accessories marketed as an “Israeli Soldier Costume Kit” after criticism online. The product included a toy rifle, military-style accessories and a prosthetic nose, prompting complaints that the costume relied on offensive stereotypes.
Walmart pulled the item and apologized, telling multiple outlets at the time that the product should not have been available for sale. The retailer said it was committed to respecting the diversity of its customers and did not intend to offend shoppers.
The episode became one of several Halloween-related merchandise disputes faced by major retailers in recent years. Last month, Target saw its stock price drop after a huge backlash forced it to pull a Halloween costume that critics said resembled racist blackface and minstrel-era imagery.
Why Was the Walmart Listing Removed?
Walmart has not publicly explained why the German soldier costume was removed and has not responded to Newsweek‘s requests for comment.
The item had remained available through Walmart’s online marketplace Tuesday morning after similar listings had disappeared from Amazon and Target. By Wednesday morning, however, the Walmart page was no longer accessible.
How Did People React?
Screenshots of the costume circulated on social media after shoppers noticed it was being sold through major retailers.
Some users questioned the appropriateness of marketing a World War II-era German military uniform as a Halloween costume, while others asked why the product had been permitted on large online marketplaces.
“Disgusting! This makes me sick. It was and still is a very dark time,” one commenter said on Threads. Another user wrote: “The boycott list is growing…”
User @authorkstarling wrote: “So… Walmart and Amazon have (present tense) a Nazi Halloween costume on their website so adults can cosplay as fascists.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang