Many Facebook and Twitter users were outraged after seeing a photo of a man dressed up as Trayvon Martin for Halloween. Not only did the man wear blackface, his costume depicted Trayvon after he was killed.
The photo, which has been called racially insensitive among other things, was taken at a party. The Halloween costume comes just months after neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the 2012 shooting death of the unarmed 17-year-old.
The picture, which was first posted to Facebook on Friday and later removed from public access only to show up on Twitter on Sunday, shows a female posing with the two men who decided to go as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman for Halloween:
I'm Trayvon Martin for Halloween pic.twitter.com/rWPkpyeWwo
— Jamie (@jamievandekamp) October 27, 2013
According to The Smoking Gun, the men in the offending costumes are from Cape Coral, Florida. One of the Florida men portrayed Zimmerman by wearing a “Neighborhood Watch” t-shirt and the other portrayed Martin by painting his face black and wearing a hoodie that had a bullet hole and bloodstains.
The woman who originally posted the photo on Facebook, Kt Cimeno, posted the following caption: “Happy Halloween from Zimmerman & trayvon :).” Many of Cimeno’s friends were quick to point out that the photo wasn’t funny.
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The photo was later posted to Twitter by user @jamievandekamp. The photo has been retweeted more than 200 times and has received dozens of comments, most of which condemn the Trayvon Martin costume. Even NFL player Chad Johnson responded to the photo.
Can someone show @CharlieGomezIII the Halloween costume where they think it's funny to imitate Trayvon Martin. That's f-ing disturbing!!!
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) October 27, 2013
I just saw a Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman Halloween costume. That is literally beyond disgusting. People make me so sick.
— khendallllll. (@pashh15) October 27, 2013
@pashh15 i saw it too…some people have the devil in them
— Donell Williams (@dwilliams12093) October 27, 2013
The news of the Trayvon Martin costume comes on the heels of actress Julianne Hough’s apology for wearing blackface as part of her Halloween costume. Hough went as a character from Orange is the New Black. She darkened her face and neck to portray the African American character Crazy Eyes.
[Images via YouTube and The Smoking Gun]