Yesterday, the UK celebrated World Book Day – a charity event designed to promote literacy and encourage kids to read.
Students in many schools were encouraged to dress up as their favorite literary characters, and naturally, that resulted in several million Hogwarts wizards…and one S&M-loving billionaire.
Yes, Fifty Shades of Grey controversies have been everywhere in the weeks since the film’s release, but that didn’t stop 11-year-old Liam Scholes from dressing up as everyone’s favorite sexual sadist for his school’s Book Day event.
Naturally, Liam sported a suit and slicked-back hair for his Christian Grey costume, but we’re guessing it was the blindfold and zip ties he carried that really freaked the adults out.
Liam was banned from participating in the Book Day festivities, but his mum thinks that’s a load of bollocks:
"It was acceptable for kids to dress up as people that kill others," said Nicola Scholes. "Liam was advised to dress as James Bond, but he was a promiscuous character who kills people…Personally, I’m more offended by murder."
Clearly, Liam’s costume was meant as a harmless joke (we hope), but considering Fifty Shades is being boycotted by activists who claim that the story glorifies violence against women, it may not be the best time for fifth-graders to dress up like the main character.
Next time, Liam, just ditch the blindfold, grab a martini glass, and say you’re 007. Yes, he was also hyper-sexualized and violent, but people don’t want to think about weird tampon scenes while they’re at an elementary school literacy event. Go figure.
