Hilary Duff Apologizes for ‘Offensive’ Native American Halloween Costume

Actress-singer Hilary Duff and her boyfriend Jason Walsh have apologized for wearing pilgrim and a Native American chief Halloween costumes to the Casamigos Halloween Party on Friday night.

The “Sparks” singer and Walsh released separate statements late Sunday after social media erupted with accusations that the new couple were guilty of cultural appropriation.

“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 [heart] sorry,” Duff tweeted.

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,” Walsh said on Instagram. “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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BMMv_V6DAP6/

The pair’s Halloween costumes were blasted as “tacky, tasteless, and offensive” soon after photos of Duff and Walsh began to circulate online.

And so ends the era of @HilaryDuff NOT being problematic. It was a good run. But this is straight up tacky, tasteless and offensive. 💁🏽 pic.twitter.com/ZyiyYVmAFl

— archived (@braidsnglasses) October 31, 2016

And indeed the derision didn’t stop there.

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

— 80 mg fluoxetine (@hahannah14) October 29, 2016

So is @HilaryDuff and her bf gonna protest that pipeline affected native Americans or ?

— Maryam♡♡ (@queenmaryam08) October 29, 2016

I can't believe Hilary Duff looked at her boyfriend and thought "yes this costume is perfect and not offensive."

— noah (@noahjk_) October 29, 2016

We'll be able to set our watches to Hilary Duff's "apology."

Watch.

— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) October 29, 2016

When you're thinking of what you should be for Halloween the answer should never be #CulturalAppropriation @HilaryDuff. That was terrible.

— Bre (@AmazingLackey) October 29, 2016

@JustJared @HilaryDuff Look how much work dude put into being racist.

— rumpelstiltskin (@LkjonesSOC) October 29, 2016

 

Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @jeromeehudson