Hilary Duff (R) and Jason Walsh attend the Casamigos Halloween Party at a private residence on October 28, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo : Getty Images/ Michael Kovac)
Disney darling Hilary Duff has managed to live a controversy-free life until now. The actress was forced to apologize because she chose the wrong costume for Halloween this year.
The "Younger" star and her beau, fitness trainer Jason Walsh, made their first public appearance as a couple at Casamigos Tequila's costume party on Oct. 28, Friday. Walsh came dressed as a Native American with a headdress and face paint while Duff wore a sexy pilgrim costume to the party, according to E! News.
However, the couple's costume choice did not go down too well with netizens who took to Twitter to express their anger over the "racially insensitive" outfits. Here are some of the reactions:
Dear @HilaryDuff,
No.
Signed,
People with sense. https://t.co/KRXuiSz3kF— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) October 29, 2016
No @HilaryDuff Traditional dress is not a costume and you being dressed as a pilgrim proves to me how insensitive and ignorant you are. https://t.co/0NvP6DD79I — LOOKING FOR CL'S EP (@hahannah14) October 29, 2016
In the wake of the backlash, the 29-year-old actress took to the micro-blogging site to apologize to her 4.9 million followers. Shortly after Duff's post, Walsh also issued a formal apology on Instagram for disrespecting those who felt the costumes were culturally insensitive.
I am SO sorry to people I offended with my costume.It was not properly thought through and I am truly, from the bottom of my ❤️sorry.
— Hilary Duff (@HilaryDuff) October 30, 2016
I meant no disrespect. I only have admiration for the indigenous people of America. In hindsight I would not have made that decision. I apologize to anyone I may have offended. A photo posted by JASON WALSH (@risemovement) on Oct 30, 2016 at 12:43pm PDT
Native American costumes are usually considered as a risky costume choice for Halloween as many see it as an offensive appropriation of their culture. What makes matters worse are the ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
Civilians and celebrities including Chris Hemsworth, Shailene Woodley and Mark Ruffalo have been participating in protests against the oil pipeline. They claim the pipeline project, which spans across four U.S. states, poses as a threat to local water supply and desecrate sacred Native American sites, particularly those of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, according to the Huffington Post.
This comes days after Hemsworth took to social media to post a lengthy apology for wearing a Lone Ranger costume at a New Year's Eve party in 2015. The "Thor" actor also expressed his solidarity with protestors of the Dakota Access pipeline.
For more details on that story, watch the video below:
