Australians defend The Wiggles after the group was blasted for ‘not making skirts for boys’

Australians have defended The Wiggles after the children’s group was criticised for not including ‘skirts for boys’ in their latest costume pack.

The band announced their new ‘Emma Costumes for Everyone’ range on Wednesday, and some parents argued the product should have included a skirt specifically made for boys.

But Aussies hit back on Friday, saying the criticism was ‘absolutely ridiculous’ and the group is inclusive.

In response to a Daily Mail Australia article about the backlash, one fan wrote: ‘That’s absolutely ridiculous. If boys want to wear skirts then they can. Not everything needs to say “boys or girls”.’

‘What can’t they just wear the skirt costume? This is ridiculous,’ another agreed.

One person wrote: Then buy the girl skirts… girls buy boy clothes all the time and we don’t complain or they don’t advertise it for us girls. We just wear it. They’re looking for a reason to complain.’

‘Have any of the male Wiggles past or present ever worn a dress? No, so why all of a sudden is this a problem? If the boys want to wear a skirt then get the girls pack, it’s not rocket science,’ another commented. 

‘If the boys wish to wear a skirt they can. It doesn’t have to be advertised with a boy wearing it. The world has gone mad and people obviously have got little to amuse themselves when they complain a boy is not dressed in a skirt in the ad,’ one said.

On Wednesday, the band announced their new ‘Emma Costumes for Everyone’ range and the packaging shows girls wearing skirts and pants while the boys only wear pants.

Some parents criticised the group for this, arguing the product should have included a skirt specifically made for boys.

Others said the packaging should have featured at least one boy wearing a skirt, to show that it’s okay for boys to do so.

Emma Watkins, a.k.a. the ‘Yellow Wiggle’, wears a costume that features a yellow skivvy, a matching bow, and a black-and-yellow tutu.

Emma is joined in The Wiggles by ‘Red Wiggle’ Simon Pryce, ‘Purple Wiggle’ Lachlan Gillespie and ‘Blue Wiggle’ Anthony Field.

The Wiggles are known for being inclusive and progressive when it comes to children who wish to dress in clothes that aren’t typically associated with their gender.

In July 2019, Emma said it was ‘wonderful to see’ boys dressing up as her character in the audience at the band’s concerts.

‘The boys are wearing bow-ties and very interesting outfits, bows down their shirts, bows in their shoes, and in their hair. It’s bow crazy!’ she said.

Two months earlier, Lachlan had posted a photo to Instagram of himself holding a sign that read, ‘Boys can be Emma.’

The positive message for transgender youth was widely praised by parents and members of the public at the time.