• A picture shared by a photography company on Wednesday shows a couple posing for a wedding picture with people dressed as handmaids from “The Handmaid’s Tale” in front of the “hanging wall” in Cambridge, Ontario.
  • Social-media users are outraged by the photo, saying those involved missed the point of the show.
  • Clint Russell and Shawn Van Daele of the photography company Van Daele & Russell, which is behind the photo, say it Photoshopped the handmaids in the image and that it was intended to get people “out in the streets participating in women’s marches” and supporting other marginalized groups.
  • The photo comes less than a month after the release of Margaret Atwood’s sequel to her 1985 novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” named “The Testaments,” which takes a more in-depth look at the arranged marriages in Gilead, the fictional setting of the book.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

People are outraged by a wedding photo inspired by “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the Hulu TV show based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 book of the same name in which women have few rights and no autonomy over their own lives.

Kendra and Torsten Mueller were married in Cambridge, Ontario, where much of the “The Handmaid’s Tale” was filmed. It’s the site of the show’s infamous “hanging wall,” where those who break laws in the fictional world of Gilead are publically executed.

In the photo shared on Wednesday, the couple is surrounded by so-called handmaids from the iconic book. The photographers told Insider the bride and groom posed in front of the wall for the picture, and that they later Photoshopped the handmaids into the image.

The photographers behind Van Daele & Russell, Shawn Van Daele and Clint Russell, say they and the couple are fans of the show in their Instagram post explaining the picture.

In a statement to Insider, the photography team said the image was intended as social commentary.

"Everyone is talking about this issue now, rather than binging on a television series and then not doing ANYTHING about what they're SO worked up over until the next season comes out in the spring," they wrote. "What's sad is that the oppression and hatred, the division, fear and breakdown of HUMANITY & COMPASSION is being perpetuated in every one of these comments."

The team also referred to themselves as "gender traitors," borrowing the term for gay in the dystopian world of "The Handmaid's Tale." The inequality the LGBTQ community experiences is also what inspired them to take a stand through their art, they said.

While the photographers say the photo was intended as a call to action, the photo didn't sit well with fans of the 'The Handmaid's Tale,' who say it missed the point of the show and was tone-deaf

In the world of Atwood's novel, handmaids are raped by married men who are unable to conceive children with their wives. Their wives watch these acts of violence, as they're deemed fertility rituals. Handmaids are not allowed to marry, nor do they have any sort of free will in Gilead.

Unsurprisingly, people have taken issue with the theme.

https://twitter.com/HelloCVH/status/1179754637961895936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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Others commented on the original Instagram post, with one user writing, "did you miss the entire point of that show."

The post comes less than a month after the release of the sequel to "The Handmaid's Tale" called "The Testaments," which gives readers a more in-depth look at how marriages work in Gilead.

In "The Testaments," marriages are arranged by men, with girls as young as 13 being forced to wed. It's not uncommon for girls to attempt suicide to try to avoid marriage in the book.

This isn't the first time handmaids have been trivialized since the show was released in 2017

Previously, the lingerie website Yandy was forced to recall a Handmaid Halloween costume after intense backlash and fans of the show deemed Kylie Jenner "tone deaf" when she hosted a "Handmaid's Tale"-themed party for a friend.

Torsten Mueller declined to comment, and Kendra Mueller did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

You can read the full statement from Van Daele & Russell below:

"We actually totally agree! Mission: accomplished! Everyone is talking about this issue now, rather than binging on a television series and then not doing ANYTHING about what they're SO worked up over until the next season comes out in the spring. What's sad is that the oppression and hatred, the division, fear and breakdown of HUMANITY & COMPASSION is being perpetuated in every one of these comments.

Take a step back and consider you may not actually know the facts, either - that this image was CREATED and put out by a pair of "Gender Traitors" who are no strangers to many of the subplots of oppression, violence, and inequality that run through Margaret's brilliant work. What's sad is that everyone is REACTING exactly as expected - just like in Gilead - and missing the opportunity to think for themselves, to educate themselves and become ENGAGED ACTIVISTS instead of simply keyboard warriors. We'd love to see you out in the streets participating in women's marches, supporting equal rights for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation, and so many other important causes, instead of sitting here scrolling through Instagram, knee-jerking your way through comments.

So you're correct - it's gross, disgusting, and a horrible reality that is rampantly becoming more "real" in the world day by day - and comment by comment. There's no more "us" - only division and hatred, and no more curiosity to learn, to help, to actively become engaged in correcting humanity's breakdown instead of instantly ATTACKING. Congrats for adding to that today!

WHY exactly are you offended? Have you asked yourself? And what are you actively doing about it IN THE REAL WORLD? We're thrilled that this is starting a conversation! THANK YOU for being moved by an issue that deserves much, much more attention.

And don't forget - if this had been a happy couple surrounded by superheroes like Batman and Superman, you wouldn't have even stopped scrolling to comment. June - along with every fighting Handmaid or human in the midst of struggle and oppression - is the ultimate superhero. Xo S&C."