In addition to the handmaid costumes (red cloaks and white bonnets), the guests witnessed Gilead flags, catering staff dressed as Marthas and apparently uttered catchphrases like "Praise be." There were even "under his eye tequila" and "praise be vodka" cocktails.
Naturally, the internet has a lot to say about the odd choice of theme, condemning Jenner for glorifying the show's dystopian world where women have no rights and are routinely raped and forced to bear children.
The handmaid costumes have also been appropriated by protesters in recent years to highlight the similarities between the fictional dystopia of Gilead and the current restriction of reproductive rights in the United States — but Jenner using the costumes as part of a birthday party has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
See footage from Jenner's Instagram story, as well as some of the less-than-enthusiastic responses to the fete below.
With all of the serious reproductive rights fights that are going on, Kylie Jenner gave a 'Handmaid's Tale' themed birthday. This entire family is tone-deaf due to privilege, and don't you forget it. pic.twitter.com/11ieyxX4ro
— emy SDCC (@emythee) June 10, 2019
I'm screaming!!! How and why did Kylie Jenner have a handmaids tale party and manage to hypersexualize the freaking red robes —THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MARGARET ATWOOD WANTED
— g (@gilltraino) June 9, 2019
Kylie Jenner out here throwing a Handmaids Tale themed party while women's rights are under threat daily pic.twitter.com/OfvR2n44Cf
— C. (@aprica56) June 9, 2019
I'm sorry, did @KylieJenner even watch #HandMaidsTale? IT'S NOT CUTE 👏👏👏 IT'S NOT STYLE 👏👏👏 IT'S NOT FUN 👏👏👏 and it SURE AS HELL isn't a party. pic.twitter.com/e7IYoZdjZf
— Jess the Mess (@Jessica_Lane_) June 9, 2019
Atwood: creates Handmaids Tale to fight oppression, give women a voice, to change policies & show world the atrocity that women have gone through
— Coconut Brown Girl (@Coconut62079951) June 10, 2019
Kylie Jenner: omg this is SOOO cute, Handmaids tale is my FAV show, new palette coming out called OPPRESSION
MA: *facepalms* pic.twitter.com/74MKpBM3Dg
Kylie Jenner's best friend aka stassibaby having a handmaids tale theme birthday party.....Margaret Atwood could have never imagined pic.twitter.com/ym7d4VLl7u
— MJT (@meganjeaux) June 9, 2019
Women like @KylieJenner will never lose bodily autonomy & access to abortion care. Restricting legal #abortion access & using religion to subjugate #Women & #LGBTQ folks is all about keeping the rich & powerful rich & powerful. @MargaretAtwood's #HandmaidsTale isn't a joke.
— Jess Phoenix 🌋🏳️🌈🤠 (@jessphoenix2018) June 10, 2019
I don't understand how people are going about their day when we know that Kylie Jenner had a Handmaids Tale themed birthday party with Under His Eye tequila cocktails.
— Rebecca Reid (@RebeccaCNReid) June 10, 2019