Hilary Duff says sorry for culturally inappropriate Halloween costumes

Hilary Duff has apologized after getting an earful from social media about the costumes she and her boyfriend wore to a Los Angeles Halloween party Friday that weren't exactly kosher for this day and age.

The former Disney star was dressed up as a pants-less pilgrim while her new beau Jason Walsh, a personal trainer, wore a headdress and face paint, appearing to be an Indigenous chief.

In a tweet Sunday to her 4.9 million followers, Duff said she was sorry to those "offended" by her costume.

"It was not properly thought through," she wrote.

Duff had posted a photo on Instagram referencing her costume before the Beverly Hills party. And even her followers found it tough to defend the look.

"How could you have possibly thought your couples costume was OK?" one user wrote. "I suggest you and your boyfriend crack a history book, beyond 'Thanksgiving for children.'"

As soon as the official party photos were released, social media lit up with comments — and they were less than favourable. People referred to the outfits as "blatant racism," "disrespectful" and insensitive.

Some tweets highlighted the current situation in North Dakota, in which a group of Native-Americans is protesting an oil pipeline they say threatens their water resources and land.

Earlier this week, actor Chris Hemsworth expressed his solidarity with the demonstrators in an Instagram post. He also apologized for sporting a sacred headdress to a costume party last year.

There has been a push for years across Canada to remove similar costumes from the market. Many people, including Indigenous groups, argue they trivialize First Nations culture.

Sunday Talk | Halloween Costumes - Are We Overly-Sensitive?

8 years ago

Duration 12:47

Some Halloween costumes have been banned due to fears they are racist, insulting, or too scary. Has political correctness gone too far? The Sunday Talk panel takes sides.