Actress Julianne Hough has issued an apology via Twitter for wearing a Halloween costume many deemed offensive.
On Oct. 25, the "Paradise" actress was photographed attending a Halloween costume party dressed as the character Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren from the hit Netflix original series "Orange is the New Black." To resemble the character Hough darkened her skin and wore an orange prison suit with ID, a long-sleeved gray T-shirt and her hair done up in tight knot.
Once photos of her began appearing on the internet, reaction came swiftly on social media calling her out on what many described as her attempt at "blackface."
"Julianne Hough wore blackface to a party. Nothing screams Halloween like good ole fashion racism," tweeted Justin Stangel. "Raising Hope" star Martha Plimpton also tweeted her response to the costume: It's not hard. White people: "Do not wear blackface. Life will still be okay if you don't ever, ever, jever, wear blackface. OKAY? GREAT."
Hough addressed her decision to wear the controversial costume Monday when she issued an extended missive on Twitter. "I am a huge fan of the show 'Orange is the New Black,' actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created," wrote Hough. "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."
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