Netflix’s Orange is the New Black is the streaming service’s most successful original series ever, so it should come as no surprise that it is a popular costume choice for Halloween this year. Safe Haven star Julianne Hough teamed up with a few friends to do an OITNB costume theme, but found herself facing backlash after she donned blackface as part of her costume.
Hough decided to go as the character Crazy Eyes, who is played by Uzo Aduba on the show. Check out the group shot of Hough and her friends as the Orange is the New Black characters below.
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As you can see, Hough darkened her face and neck, plus darkened her hair and knotted it up to look like Crazy Eyes. Once pictures of Hough in blackface hit Instagram and Twitter, people began attacking the actress for what many considered to be a racially insensitive costume.
Dear Julianne Hough, blackface is never a good costume, k?
— Nerdista (@Nerdista) October 26, 2013
Julianne Hough could've easily gone as the super boring overly privileged "Piper Kerman," i guess that it is too close to real life & ain't+
— Sister Outsider (@FeministGriote) October 26, 2013
What do you think? Is the outrage over Hough’s costume choice much ado about nothing or is it justified? Respond below.
After Julianne Hough received quite a bit of criticism, she posted an apology on Twitter yesterday.
I am a huge fan of the show Orange is the New black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created. http://t.co/z5guo2Ogfi
— Julianne Hough (@juliannehough) October 26, 2013
The rest of Hough’s apology was posted to TwitLonger, which read “It certainly was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way. I realize my costume hurt and offended people and I truly apologize.”
Check out a close up of Julianne Hough in blackface:
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And here is a picture of Uzo Aduba in character as Crazy Eyes:
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One thing is for sure–anyone who was thinking about using blackface to pull off an Orange is the New Black Costume–or any other Halloween costume, for that matter–will think twice now.