Blackface Costume Controversies
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Overview
Blackface Costume Controversies refer to a series of online backlashes prompted by Halloween costumes that entail painting one's own face in black or brown as to emulate the darker skin tone of black people. Despite the widespread cultural stigma surrounding the practice in North America, many celebrities and other individuals have come under criticism for sporting the blackface as part of their costumes.
Background
Blackface, a form of theatrical makeup which involves a white person darkening their skin to appear black, was a popular part of American minstrel shows[12] in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The shows involved white performers in blackface mocking black individuals using racial stereotypes. It was later used in the early films of the 1920s.
Notable Developments
February 2012: Billy Crystal's Oscars Blackface
On February 26th, 2012, Billy Crystal appeared in blackface portraying Sammy Davis Junior during the Academy Awards ceremony.
Crystal was criticized by many sites the following day. Feministing's[14] "Memo to Billy Crystal" explained:
"Blackface is not okay. Ever."
On March 1st, The Hollywood Reporter[15] reported Davis Junior's daughter supported Crystal, saying:
"“Billy previously played my father when he was alive, and my father gave Billy his full blessing.”
October 2012: Waverly High School
On October 15th, 2012, CNN[9] reported students at New York's Waverly High School dressed in blackface to perform a skit reenacting Chris Brown's violence against his then girlfriend Rihanna. They also published a photo taken from Facebook.
The incident was covered by several websites the following day including Jezebel[10], which featured support Waverly students and alumni were showing for the skit and The Huffington Post.[11]
October 2013: Julianne Hough
On October 25th, 2013, actress Julianne Hough wore blackface as part of a Halloween costume[1] meant to portray Orange is the New Black character Crazy Eyes.
On October 26th, Hough tweeted out[3] an apology saying:
"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."
October 2014: Ray Rice Halloween Costumes
On October 26th, 2014, ESPN commentator Keith Olbermann[6] tweeted[5] out a photo of a couple wearing blackface as part of their Halloween costume portraying Ray Rice and his wife.
The picture, as well as other blackface Ray Rice costumes tweeted to Olbermann, were covered by several websites including Gawker, Feministing[7] and USA Today.[8]
October 2018: Megyn Kelly
On October 23rd, 2018, Megyn Kelly addressed whether wearing blackface is racist during an episode of Megyn Kelly Today during a discussion about Halloween costumes and political correctness. That day, Twitter user @tommyxtopher tweeted a clip of the segment, adding "Megyn Kelly wonders what the big deal is about blackface" (shown below).
Megyn Kelly wonders what the big deal is about blackface pic.twitter.com/07yvYDuAYe
— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) October 23, 2018
“But what is racist? Because truly, you do get in trouble if you’re a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, or a Black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Like, back when I was a kid that was OK as long as you were dressing up as like a character.”
That day, a Twitter Moments[16] page titled "Megyn Kelly under controversy for remarks on wearing blackface costumes for Halloween," which highlighted several tweets criticizing Kelly for her comments. That day, US Weekly[17] published a letter sent by Kelly to staff at Megyn Kelly Today, in which she apologized for the comments:
"One of the wonderful things about my job is that I get the chance to express and hear a lot of opinions. Today is one of those days where listening carefully to other points of view, including from friends and colleagues, is leading me to rethink my own views. When we had the roundtable discussion earlier today about the controversy of making your face look like a different race as part of a Halloween costume, I suggested that this seemed okay if done as part of this holiday where people have the chance to make themselves look like others. The iconic Diana Ross came up as an example. To me, I thought, why would it be controversial for someone dressing up as Diana Ross to make herself look like this amazing woman as a way of honoring and respecting her?"
Search Interest
External References
[1] New York Daily News – Julianne Hough dons blackface for 'Orange Is the New Black' Halloween costume
[2] People – Julianne Hough Apologizes for Blackface Costume at Party
[3] Twitlonger – Julianne Hough
[5] Gawker – Ray Rice Halloween Costumes Combine Blackface, Domestic Violence Jokes
[6] Twitter – KeithOlbermann
[7] Feministing – Ray Rice Halloween costumes are not funny
[8] USA Today – Dress up as Ray Rice for Halloween? Critics blast costumes
[9] CNN – High School Pep Rally's Racist Display
[10] Jezebel – Idiot Students in Blackface Reenact Chris Brown Beating Rihanna at Worst Pep Rally Ever
[11] The Huffington Post – Idiot Students in Blackface Reenact Chris Brown Beating Rihanna at Worst Pep Rally Ever
[12] The Grio – Idiot Students in Blackface Reenact Chris Brown Beating Rihanna at Worst Pep Rally Ever
[13] Hollywood Reporter – Billy Crystal’s Oscar-Night Sammy Davis Jr. Impersonation Draws “Blackface” Criticisms
[14] Feministing – Memo to Billy Crystal
[15] Hollywood Reporter – Billy Crystal's Oscar Blackface: Sammy Davis, Jr.'s Daughter '100 Percent Certain My Father Is Smiling'
[16] Twitter Moments – Megyn Kelly under controversy for remarks on wearing blackface costumes for Halloween
[17] US Weekly – Megyn Kelly Apologizes to Coworkers for Defending Blackface Halloween Costumes
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