Wisconsin man fired after wearing Adolf Hitler costume for Halloween

A Wisconsin man has lost his job after he wore a rather controversial costume for Halloween.

According to a statement published on its website, the Madison Children's Museum has opted to fire an employee after he dressed up as Adolf Hitler over the weekend

Earlier this week, the museum confirmed that an individual who had been condemned by several news outlets for dressing as the Nazi leader did in fact work for them.

They also explained that the man has "cognitive disabilities" and that thought he was "mocking Hitler".

"A man in the Downtown area dressed and otherwise portrayed himself as Hitler," the museum wrote, adding: "It has come to our attention that this person is a Madison Children’s Museum employee."

Adolf Hitler. Credit: David Cole / Alamy

"This is completely unacceptable and runs counter to everything the museum believes. We stand against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry and discrimination," the statement continued, before revealing that the man had been suspended.

They went on to report that the employee "has cognitive disabilities due to a traumatic brain injury", and that "it is our understanding that he believed his costume to be mocking Hitler."

Regardless, the museum made it clear that he would be held accountable for the "harm" his costumed had "done to the community".

A day later on Tuesday (November 1), another statement confirmed that the man's employment had been terminated.

"The organization has determined that his continued employment would create an environment at odds with our values and unwelcoming to visitors and staff," the update read.

"We still hope to facilitate a restorative justice process to redress the harm done to the community while allowing him to understand the effects of his actions and accept accountability," it added.

Madison Children's Museum. Credit: jay goebel / Alamy

The individual - who has not been named - was roundly condemned on social media after pictures of him out and about in a Nazi uniform went viral.

Campaigning organization Stop Antisemitism said they were "nauseated" by the costume, adding: "With antisemitic incidents on the rise at both this particular school and across the country, this costume was meant to do one thing, and one thing only - spread hate."

Meanwhile, the man's mother told The Wisconsin State Journal that their family were asking for "privacy as we work with professionals on this sensitive matter."

Featured Image Credit: devilmaya / Alamy