The Controversy
Amazon is under fire for selling a $219 life-sized animatronic witch that has shoppers and advocacy groups seeing red. The decoration, made by Collective Home, features a "spooky" witch holding a spellbook. The issue? The book is emblazoned with a Star of David instead of a traditional pentacle.
Critics are pointing out that this isn't just a design oversight—it's a massive L. They argue that it leans into a centuries-old, harmful trope that falsely depicts Jewish people as sorcerers or practitioners of dark magic.
The Fallout
One Brooklyn local who bought the item told the New York Post she was "horrified" to learn the context of the symbol, noting she had assembled the prop without inspecting the book closely. "I’m very upset, this is horrible," she said. "I should take it up with Amazon."
Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers group, didn't hold back, stating: "Somebody at Amazon either didn’t notice or didn’t care. And now it shows up in Brooklyn, New York with all time highs in antisemitism."
A Growing Trend of Problematic Merch
Watchdog group StopAntisemitism flagged that this is part of a wider pattern. They noted that an Austin Powers-inspired "Mr. Evil" costume also recently surfaced, featuring a Jewish star on the character's pinky ring where there previously was none.
Liora Rez, founder and executive director of StopAntisemitism, told the New York Post, "Amazon must take accountability for the products it sells to consumers, especially when they are marketed for a holiday so closely associated with children."
Why it matters
This isn't the first time a major retailer has faced heat for offensive merchandise. When seemingly "harmless" items perpetuate dangerous stereotypes, it can normalize hate. With antisemitism already at all-time highs, experts say platforms like Amazon need to be way more vigilant about what they’re green-lighting for sale, because the vibes are off.
