Spooky season is upon us, and that means one thing: our Insta grids are littered with celebrity Halloween costumes, from the Kardashian-Jenners to Heidi Klum.
While the majority tend to be a blend of fun, flirty, and at times, actually scary (yes, we’re referring to Heidi’s 2022 worm costume), some have caused beef with other celebs or were just downright problematic.
For some reason this year, Paris Hilton seems to be in the firing line for her family’s Beauty and the Beast get-up.
The heiress transformed into Disney Princess Belle, her husband Carter Reum dressed as ‘the Beast,’ her son, Phoenix, three, was the charming French candelabra Lumière, while daughter London, two, appeared as Chip, the adorable chipped teacup.
However, Paris was forced to defend herself when commenters accused her of stealing her children’s thunder. Dramatic, we know.
But as the internet gets its knickers in a twist about that, Metro has rounded up some genuinely problematic celeb weeny looks from past years.
Hilary Duff and Jason Walsh, 2016
10 years ago, Hilary Duff and her then-boyfriend Jason Walsh attended a Halloween party in LA dressed as a pilgrim and a Native American.
The two faced backlash as their ‘costumes’ were considered offensive because they relied on cultural appropriation and racial stereotyping.
Not only did people accuse the former couple of cultural insensitivity, due to wearing sacred items like a Native American headdress as a costume and trivialising indigenous culture, but it was also poor timing.
Their party choice came at a time of high-profile, real-world protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota, which centred around the protection of Native American land and rights.
Following heavy criticism on social media, both issued public apologies, admitting they had not properly thought through their outfits.
Luann de Lesseps, 2017
The Real Housewives of New York City star thought it would be a good idea to dress up as Diana Ross in 2017.
Luann wore a white jumpsuit, a large afro wig, and bronzer/tanning cream to Dorinda Medley’s Halloween party, which was featured in the season 10 premiere.
Co-star Carole Radziwill and many viewers immediately criticised the look, calling it tone-deaf and saying it resembled blackface.
Luann denied the latter, claiming she only applied her normal bronzer, and that she was paying homage to a music icon.
She later issued an apology in 2018 on the show and on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she said: ‘I’m horrified! I never meant to hurt anybody’s feelings. I love Diana Ross and I totally respect Diana Ross. It was really kind of a tribute to her, and it was Halloween.’
Luann also vehemently denied changing her skin tone for the look, telling the host: ‘I didn’t. I had bronzer on that I wear normally like the rest of my skin. I’m tan, like right now.
‘So I didn’t add anything to or would ever, ever dream of doing a blackface. Ever. I’m very sorry to everyone out there if I offended anyone.’
Julianne Hough, 2013
In 2013, Julianne Hough attended a Halloween party dressed as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren (played by Uzo Aduba) from the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, which had aired earlier that year.
The dancer, singer and actress donned an orange Litchfield Penitentiary prison uniform and darkened her skin with makeup (again, another blackface accusation) to mimic the character.
The costume was immediately condemned on social media and by public figures, which led to Julianne issuing an apology on X.
She reflected on her choice, saying that she was a huge fan of the show and Uzo Aduba but that she was aware the ‘costume’ was offensive.
Julianne said: ‘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 apologise.’
Uzo Aduba later addressed the incident. The actor called it an ‘unfortunate event’ and expressed a desire to move forward after Julianne apologised.
Khloé Kardashian, Malika and Khadijah Haqq, and Meagan and La’Myia Good, 2003
Way back in 2003 — and years before her family mega found fame through Keeping Up With the Kardashians — Khloé dressed up as a ‘pimp’ for Halloween.
The reality star, who was 19 years old at the time, wore a light blue pinstriped suit and a fedora, and posed holding chain leashes attached to the necks of her besties Malika and Khadijah Haqq, plus actresses Meagan and La’Myia Good, who were all dressed in white lingerie.
But when photos resurfaced years later, it caused widespread criticism and online backlash, with critics condemning the costume as offensive, racist, and promoting imagery tied to slavery and sex trafficking.
Khloé has never actually addressed the incident; however, Meagan did in 2019. The now-45-year-old said: ‘That one time on Halloween when you were young and dumb. And clearly didn’t think 15 years ahead lol smh. Welp, mistakes were made.’
Emily Hampshire, 2023
This one’s actually pretty recent. In 2023, Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire and her friend dressed up as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, just over a year after the former couple’s very public defamation trial.
Emily dressed as Depp, wearing a striped suit, fake tattoos, and holding a bottle of wine, while her friend posed as Heard in a white shirt and a sad expression.
Emily shared photos online but quickly deleted them after they caused controversy, with people accusing them of making light of domestic abuse.
The actor later posted an apology on Instagram, calling her choice ‘ignorant’ and ‘insensitive.’
She penned: ‘I want to address one of the most thoughtless, insensitive, and ignorant things I’ve ever done. For Halloween, I stupidly thought it would be funny to dress as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
‘I am deeply sorry and ashamed for putting something that awful out in the universe. Domestic abuse is never, ever funny. These are real issues with real people and I REALLY regret my actions.’
Emily signed the post off with: ‘In the future I will do better. I’m so sorry.’
Lily Allen, 2014
Finally, back in 2014, Lily Allen rocked up at Kate Hudson’s Halloween party dressed as a gynaecologist named Dr. Luke.
This was a direct reference to music producer Dr. Luke, whom Kesha had recently accused of sexual assault, emotional abuse and battery.
In her lawsuit, Kesha alleged the producer plied her with drugs and alcohol, then made sexual advances when her defences were down.
When photos were published online, Lily was criticised for trivialising Kesha’s serious sexual assault allegations.
However, the Alfie singer later claimed in her 2018 memoir that she was actually making a dig towards Dr. Luke, rather than Kesha. But, that she was regretful how it landed while stating her support for Kesha.