It’s Halloween season, and some people have already gotten it wrong. There’s still time to avoid controversy with these tips
There’s a funny tweet making the rounds this year: Somewhere, a white boy is planning a Halloween costume that’s about to ruin their future. Knowing what we know about Halloween in the social media and internet age, that’s all too true.
In the Philippines, bad Halloween decisions are not so damaging, but that doesn’t mean it won’t ever start to be one day. Often, the major controversy surrounding the spooky season in this country involves religious conservatives’ objections to its supernatural and “demonic” themes. But now, some people—such as this café in Cubao Expo that had an absolutely inadvisable (to say the least) EJK victim decoration—are starting to cross the boundaries of the tasteless and insensitive.
Some people—such as this café in Cubao Expo that had an absolutely inadvisable (to say the least) EJK victim decoration—are starting to cross the boundaries of the tasteless and insensitive
So because a lot of Filipinos are generally ignorant of party fouls (even when it isn’t Halloween), perhaps it’s time to put together a list of tropes you should avoid doing this Halloween if you want to avoid being an accidental social media topic of the week. Here are five basic no-nos for Halloween, whether it’s a costume or a decoration:
Don’t punch down
No matter what you do, do not trivialize the poor, the underprivileged, and the downtrodden with your costume or Halloween prop. The EJK victim falls squarely under this restriction as well as anyone who’s down on their luck financially, politically, and/or psychologically—people are hurting, and they don’t want to see their pain be trivialized just so you could farm hearts on the ‘gram.
Don’t be racist
Normally this wouldn’t even have to be said but in 2024 people still think it’s okay to put on blackface even in adoration of people of color. Don’t be racially insensitive and don’t play up any stereotypes, even when you think you’re giving props to someone you admire. Your face doesn’t have to be dark brown, trust us. Don’t be like MYMP Chin.
Don’t sexualize who shouldn’t be sexualized
Don’t get me wrong: If you voluntarily want to be sexy on Halloween, then by all means, go for it. Just don’t participate in sus behavior by sexualizing those who shouldn’t be sexualized, such as underage characters and personalities, or stepdaughters. The earlier example of Donnalyn Bartolome getting flak at her own birthday party was because she ended up inadvertently sexualizing a child, which is just plain weird no matter which way you cut it.
If you voluntarily want to be sexy on Halloween, then by all means, go for it. Just don’t participate in sus behavior by sexualizing those who shouldn’t be sexualized, such as underage characters and personalities, or stepdaughters
Don’t risk offending certain groups
Somewhat related to the first item: If your costume idea comes with the danger of offending a certain big group of people, whether it’s a religion, ethnic group, or something similar, it’s best to keep it in the closet. You may be thinking of a specific person for the laughs or you might even think about a specific race or Indigenous group. In fact, it’s probably just much easier to blanket-ban entire ethnic groups from being costumes because no one really wants to have their actual identity be just a Halloween costume.
Don’t be anyone problematic
Again, tied to the first item—you might think it’s edgy and a little funny to dress up as P. Diddy because he’s in so much news right now, but just don’t. Don’t be Diddy, don’t be Donald Trump, don’t be R. Kelly. At worst, people will think you’re idolizing the problematic personality, and at best people will find you either ignorant, tasteless, or both. You don’t want that smoke hounding you, and it’s more likely to backfire than it isn’t. (But okay, fine, you can be Alice Guo as long as you’re making fun of her.)