From actress Julianne Hough in blackface to guys dressing up as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, some Halloween costumes are sparking uproar. INSIDE EDITION has the details.
There's outrage over a Halloween costume worn by actress Julianne Hough.
The former Dancing with the Stars dancer went to a swanky Halloween bash in Beverly Hills dressed in blackface as Crazy Eyes, a character in the hit Netflix series, Orange is the New Black.
Hough washed off the blackface inside the party and there was a big crush of photographers outside as she and her friends tried to leave.
After a firestorm erupted, Hough realized her error in judgment and apologized, tweeting: "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."
On the Today show Monday morning, Matt Lauer said, “Blackface is always a problem. It's never a good idea!”
On Good Morning America, George Stephanopoulos said, “It was a real apology. Good to see that.”
The View's Sherri Shepherd defended Hough, “There are so many young people who are so unaware of our history. A lot of people have been calling her racist and knowing Julianne, she's not racist.”
Lifestyle expert Harriette Cole told INSIDE EDITION, "It is disparaging of African-Americans. It shows the worst of our culture and that is never funny or entertaining."
Another set of Halloween costumes are also causing outrage. In a photo, knucklehead 25-year-old William Filene, who was dressed as Trayvon Martin in blackface and a bloodstained hoodie. His friend, 22-year-old Greg Cimeno, was dressed as George Zimmerman in a neighborhood watch t-shirt. Greg was making a gun with his hand and pointing at his friend's head.
Caitlin Cimeno, who was in the center of the photo dressed as Robin Hood, posted the picture to her Facebook page with the caption, "Happy Halloween from Zimmerman & Trayvon."
The costumes are being condemned on Twitter as "ignorant and disrespectful."
Cole told INSIDE EDITION, "This is much too close to home. Inappropriate. Hopefully, their friends and all the millions of people seeing the picture will call them out on it."
