TikTok’s ‘Ghost’ Trend Leaves Internet Users Aghast For Resembling KKK
Left image via Shutterstock, right image via mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com
A new TikTok trend involving participants dressing up as ghosts has sparked a debate online.
TikTok users have been posting videos of them posed in white bedsheets under the hashtag “#GhostPhotoshoot.” The challenge involves wearing a white bedsheet with cut-out eye holes, with some teens deciding to add sunglasses for more personality in their images.
The videos either saw them posing alone, or together with their ghost friends and pets.
The trend, however, has incurred a fair amount of criticism due to the costume’s supposed resemblance to the Ku Klux Klan uniform.
Although the ghost costume doesn’t involve a pointed hood, people are calling the snaps “tone-deaf” and “insensitive,” especially with the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.
“I can imagine the diversity behind these sheets isn’t very different than the color of the sheets they’re behind,” a Twitter user weighed in. “Please think about the possible associations with this ghost trend,” another said.
Other users claimed there was nothing wrong with the trend, with one user tweeting, “Nothing malicious in kids putting an old-timey ghost costumes and taking pics with friends.”
The conversation about the #GhostPhotoshoot went viral after New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz posted a thread about it. While the trend did not sit well with a few internet users, Lorenz defended it by posting videos of people of color who participated in the challenge.
“People of all races and backgrounds are participating in this trend. It’s a fun spooky Halloween thing that’s easy to do and safe in COVID times,” she tweeted. “Please stop trying to cancel ghosts.”
Writer Nylah Burton fired back by stating that Lorenz’s defense seemed like she was belittling “the trauma and impact this could have on actual black folks… whose families have actually been terrorized by the Klan.” Lorenz eventually apologized for her tweets.
A tiktok trend rn that’s big with teens is to dress up in sheets and take ghost photos. It’s the first day of fall, so here’s a thread. pic.twitter.com/zWH0H13Acx
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) September 22, 2020
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) September 22, 2020
If you’re one of the many people trying to cancel literal children for dressing themselves and their pets up as ghosts while trying to celebrate yet another holiday they’re largely being robbed of b/c of COVID please unfollow me and go away pic.twitter.com/7CDLGmJE44
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) September 22, 2020
Bedsheet ghosts have been around for hundreds of years (since Shakespeare days) and are frequently portrayed in pop culture. I didn’t anticipate how angry ppl would be that this is still a popular kids Halloween costume! but I appreciate everyone who shared their thoughts. pic.twitter.com/7GVkqu2aKM
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) September 23, 2020
*whispers* cuz she knows it’s right at the cusp of... nvm. She doesn’t want to see it. This reminds me of the hand symbol game that had white supremacist ties and the kids were allowed to keep going cuz it was just “harmless fun” despite being called out for it.
— a Junt. (@easy_mfpeasy) September 22, 2020
I think people are more interested in cancelling you for belittling the trauma and the impact this could have on actual Black folk like me, whose families have actually been terrorized by the Klan https://t.co/xK1X0QU5xZ
— nylah burton (@yumcoconutmilk) September 22, 2020
There’s no way I’m the only one thinking this is insensitive, right? Like, do you not see the similarity between this and KKK costumes? And with #BLM still having to defend that their lives do in fact matter, no one had the thought of like, let’s not?
— Bae Laya (@baelaya) September 23, 2020
I can imagine the diversity behind these sheets isnt very different than the color of the sheets theyre behind.
— Ari Wagner (@AriHoopsWagner) September 22, 2020
if i saw a group of people dressed up like this, i would run for my life.
— superbloom track 2&8 (@sgfgdel) September 22, 2020
please think about the possible associations with this ghost trend. https://t.co/oF01rXnYYl
If you're choosing to see something malicious in kids putting on old-timey ghost costumes and taking pics with friends, they you really need to get off Twitter and find some joy in your life. SMH.
— Gini (Jeanette) Ponder (@giniponder) September 22, 2020
People walking around wearing white sheets is probably not the greatest idea ever
— anthonyquintano (@AnthonyQuintano) September 22, 2020
white kids in the replies calling this a reach... with blm in their bio and names... as expected... pic.twitter.com/YnIwNAfqxX
— yeng ✨ (@waevelite) September 22, 2020
[via Daily Dot, cover image via Shutterstock, mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com]
