Julianne Hough went to a Halloween party as “Crazy Eyes” from Orange Is The New Black and the twitterverse/internet is all aflutter with inflammatory headlines:
 |
| Julianne Hough as Crazy Eyes |
“Julianne Hough Dresses As Crazy Eyes
For Halloween, Probably Didn't Think This One Through”
“Julianne Hough’s Costume is Pretty Inappropriate”
“Julianne Hough Goes
Blackface as Orange Is the
New Black Character for Halloween Costume”
I’m Black
and while I definitely do not speak for all Black people, I was not offended by
her costume choice. I don’t see it any
different than a black person putting on a White mask to be Superman, or hell,
painting themselves white and getting a wig to make it look even more
authentic. Crazy Eyes is a character on
a television show. The character is
Black. How in the hell else can a White
woman be Crazy Eyes if she doesn’t use makeup?
 |
| Julianne Hough as herself |
I’m not
slow. I know there’s a terrible history in America with Blackface. It’s the shitty Steppin’ Fetchit stereotype
and there are scars there. It’s very
sensitive. I get it.
BUT CRAZY EYES
IS A BLACK CHARACTER.
 |
| Crazy Eyes from Orange Is The New Black |
So, if I
wanted to be Mr. Sulu for Halloween, I would be a racist? If I wanted to Captain Kirk, would that be a
problem?
This wasn't Blackface. It was a fucking Halloween costume. Isn't that what happens on Halloween?
You get to play dress up. You get
to be whatever and whomever you want – for one night. Julianne Hough wanted to be a Black character
from a television show that she’s a fan of.
I didn’t realize that when choosing your
costume you had to stick within racial boundaries.
I don't see this as insensitive. If she were dressed up in a KKK get up, then I see the problem, but seriously? It's a Halloween costume.
There’s so
much more going in the world.
There has got to be something more important than this.
