Singer/actress and Dancing with the Stars pro Julianne Hough caused a controversy this weekend by dressing in blackface for Halloween. Hough and friends were all dressed up as the cast of the Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black, with Hough as Uzo Aduba's character, Crazy Eyes. She is now apologizing.
Blackface has a long, sordid history in the United States.The offensive theater makeup was used for over a decade in early American theater and lasted even longer in Britain. The makeup styling was still used regularly up until the 1970's, in the British TV series, The Black and White Minstrel Show.
Many of early cinema's biggest names performed in blackface, including Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby, Mickey Rooney, and Fred Astaire. Where the practice was common back then, blackface today is mostly done as satire. Hough claims that she dawned the controversial make up as a loving tribute that was not meant to offend.
Hough apologized for her costume after she realized her offense, tweeting:
"I am a huge fan of the show Orange is the New Black actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created. 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."
Still, an apology hasn't got Hough off the hook. Many critics still find it hard to believe that Hough didn't know that it would be offensive in the first place. Others are likely to bring up her Republican background and support of Mitt Romney.
Hough is sure to be the subject of late night TV fodder for the next few days. The ribs have even started on twitter. Zack Braff tweeted his close friend and Scrubs co-star Donald Faison, joking:
"@donald_faison you should go as Julianne Hough for Halloween. I'll be Seacrest."
Hough and Ryan Seacrest dated from 2010-2013.
What do you think of Hough costume? Is it offensive? Do you buy her apology? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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