Do you really know? Why does poverty cosplay cause such controversy?
Dec 10, 2025
The podcast dives into the concept of poverty cosplay, showcasing celebrities who flaunt a shabby aesthetic while living luxuriously. It discusses why this trend feels like an appropriation of real hardship and highlights luxury brands selling faux-worn goods. The emotional impact on those who experience true poverty is explored, along with how thrift shop prices are affected by these trends. Ultimately, it reveals the practical harms poverty cosplay imposes on those genuinely struggling.
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Aestheticising Hardship As Fashion
- Poverty cosplay outfits and decor mimic the signs of real hardship and repurpose them as fashion statements.
- This aestheticisation turns lived struggle into a trend that comforts the wealthy while erasing the realities of deprivation.
Celebrities And Luxury Brands Cited
- The episode names celebrities like Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran and Kim Kardashian as examples called out for poverty cosplay.
- It cites Golden Goose shoes as a concrete example of luxury items made to look beat-up and sold for high prices.
Emotional Toll On Those With Lived Poverty
- Many feel bitterness when wealthy people treat the visible markers of poverty as creative expression.
- The appropriation can be especially painful for those who experienced bullying or stigma for being poor.