Even as The Handmaid’s Tale continues to resemble the global political landscape in increasingly disturbing ways, Kylie Jenner thought it a good idea to throw a birthday party inspired by the dystopian TV drama.
Over the weekend, in honour of Stassie Karanikolaou ― her best friend not named Jordyn Woods ― the makeup mogul transformed her Hidden Hills, California, home into the authoritarian regime of Gilead, the unyieldingly brutal setting of The Handmaid’s Tale.
All guests ― including Scott Disick’s girlfriend, Sofia Richie ― were encouraged to don matching handmaid’s costumes (blood red cloaks! white bonnets! political silence!) and sip on beverage selections like “Praise Be vodka” and “Under His Eyes tequila,” which were served by women cosplaying as Marthas, a class of domestic servants in the series.
The third season premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale was apparently screened at the function, which also included a lavish sit-down meal.
In a series of Snapchat posts, Jenner is seen dressed in her handmaid’s finest welcoming guests to the party.
“Praise be, ladies!” she says, referencing a phrase from the series. “Welcome!”
Given that the TV show and the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel it’s based on take place in a world where women are repeatedly brutalised and forced to bear children under an oppressive religious patriarchy, perhaps Kylie could’ve brainstormed a better party theme.
The internet wasted no time in dragging Jenner for glamorising the violence and misogyny in the series, especially at a time when reproductive rights are being rolled back across the US...
Kylie is yet to respond to the backlash, but has removed any trace of the party from her social media accounts.
The Handmaid’s Tale is surprisingly popular among the KarJenner clan, with Kim Kardashian listing the Emmy-winning drama as one of her favourites after soliciting suggestions from the internet about which TV shows she should watch.
While this party certainly wasn’t Kylie’s finest hour, she recently spoke out about the controversial Alabama legislation that outlaws virtually all abortions in the state, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
She shared a photo on Instagram of the 25 men who helped pass that bill, with the caption “makes me sick,” while also announcing that her boyfriend Travis Scott will donate all the profits from merchandise sales at a recent Alabama concert to various Planned Parenthood organisations.