Entertainment

The 15 Most Controversial Celebrity Halloween Costumes of All Time

EntertainmentPublished Sep 6, 2017
By Kayla Boyd
hilary duff halloween costume Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Celebrities often cause an uproar over the things they say, do, and wear -- but when it comes to dressing up for Halloween, some of them really know how to cause an Internet frenzy. Whether their costumes appropriated a culture, trivialized a serious situation, or were honestly just plain stupid, these celebs definitely got dragged for how they chose to celebrate. 

More from CafeMom: 25 Best Pregnancy Halloween Costumes

From the costumes that made Internet news, to the outfits that had you texting your friends with "What we're they thinking?!?!" -- celebrities can get it so wrong that it's offensive.

Celebrities, here are some helpful tips from us to you: 

  1. If your costume trivializes a race, religion, or ethnicity -- don't do it. 

  2. If you sort of question if it's in good taste -- don't do it. 

  3. If you have looked at our celebrity controversial costume list and still think that "Cowboys and Indians" is a good idea ... come on now.

Here are 15 celebrity Halloween costumes that are so inappropriate, they're sure to make you cringe. Let's make a pact to do better this year, okay?

1/15
Scott Disick as an Arab Sheikh-placeholder
Scott Disick as an Arab Sheikh
letthelordbewithyou/Instagram

Scott Disick as an Arab Sheikh

In 2014 Scott posted this photo to Instagram with the caption, "Happy halloween! We getting Arab money tonight." As you can imagine, many people did not find this very funny and thought it perpetuated Arab stereotypes. 

More from CafeMom: 14 Classic Halloween Movies to Spook Out the Whole Fam (Yep, Kids, Too)

2/15
Hilary Duff & Jason Walsh as a Pilgrim & a Native American-placeholder
Hilary Duff & Jason Walsh as a Pilgrim & a Native American
Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Hilary Duff & Jason Walsh as a Pilgrim & a Native American

Hilary Duff and Jason Walsh attended the Casamigos Halloween Party in 2016 dressed as a Pilgrim and a Native American. Considering this country's history of abuse against Native Americans, many folks did not find the images of the couple to be amusing. Duff has since apologized for the costumes, saying on Twitter, "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 emoji] sorry."

3/15

Julianne Hough as Crazy Eyes from "Orange Is the New Black"

Remember a couple years ago when Dancing With the Stars'Julianne Hough "bronzed" her face to look like Crazy Eyes from Orange Is the New Black? Needless to say, people were NOT happy about it. At all.

4/15
Heidi Klum as Hindu Goddess Kali-placeholder
Heidi Klum as Hindu Goddess Kali
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Heidi Klum as Hindu Goddess Kali

Supermodel Heidi Klum always goes all out for Halloween, but in 2008 she may have taken it a bit too far. She arrived to her 9th annual Halloween party dressed as Hindu goddess Kali. Hindu leaders were upset by her imitation of the sacred figure and thought it was disrespectful. 

More from CafeMom: 16 Halloween Costumes That'll Prove Your Pop Culture Knowledge Is On Point

5/15
Chrissy Teigen & John Legend as "Cowboys & Indians"-placeholder
Chrissy Teigen & John Legend as "Cowboys & Indians"
Octavio R Vera Jr/Splash News

Chrissy Teigen & John Legend as "Cowboys & Indians"

As much as we love them, this wasn't the best choice. In 2008, the couple dressed as a "sexy Indian" and a cowboy. Native American appropriation isn't okay now, and it wasn't then either.

6/15
Nicky Hilton as a Native American-placeholder
Nicky Hilton as a Native American
Mariotto/Chiva/INFphoto.com

Nicky Hilton as a Native American

Yup, ANOTHER ONE. Oh, and there are plenty more too. Nicky's sister Paris actually dressed as a Native American as well a few years prior.

7/15
Jeff Ross as Joe Paterno-placeholder
Jeff Ross as Joe Paterno
Michael Tran/Getty Images

Jeff Ross as Joe Paterno

Not long after the allegations of child sex abuse at Penn State, comedian Jeff Ross dressed as late football coach Joe Paterno, accompanied by two shirtless football players. Disgusting!!!

8/15

Jason Aldean as Lil Wayne

More blackface because clearly some people just don't get it. Country singer Jason Aldean was spotted dressed as rapper Lil Wayne in 2015.

More from CafeMom: 12 Tasteless Halloween Costumes No One Should Try -- but You Know Someone Will (PHOTOS)

9/15

Ashley Benson as Cecil the Lion

Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson really upset her Instagram followers after this photo was posted to her page with the caption, "Help! Can't decide on my Halloween costume this year! What do you guys thing of this Cecil the Lion costume?" The issue was that the real Cecil, a 13-year-old lion, made headlines that year after he was killed in Zimbabwe by a Minnesota dentist.

10/15
Chris Brown as a Taliban Terrorist-placeholder
Chris Brown as a Taliban Terrorist
Ultrawig/Splash News

Chris Brown as a Taliban Terrorist

Obviously, there are SO many things wrong about this.

11/15
Harry Hamlin & Lisa Rinna as Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen-placeholder
Harry Hamlin & Lisa Rinna as Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen
Photographer Group/Splash News

Harry Hamlin & Lisa Rinna as Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen

Yes, that is a swastika on Harry's shirt. These costumes were inspired by a 1978 photo of Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. Obviously sporting a Nazi symbol is offensive! The couple has since apologized.

12/15

Heidi & Spencer Pratt as Jon & Kate Plus 8

In 2009, the Hills couple dressed up as fellow reality stars Jon and Kate Gosselin. Their costume included eight baby dolls and definitely poked fun at the controversial couple who were just splitting up at the time. 

More from CafeMom: 15 Times Reality Stars Dated Actual Celebrities

13/15

Lily Allen as Dr. Luke

The British singer dressed as a gynecologist in 2014 in mockery of producer Dr. Luke and singer Kesha’s sexual assault lawsuit. Yeah, that's not okay.

14/15
Kelly Osbourne as Rachel Dolezal-placeholder
Kelly Osbourne as Rachel Dolezal
kellyosbourne/Instagram

Kelly Osbourne as Rachel Dolezal

In 2015, Kelly Osbourne posted this photo on Instagram with the hashtag #CallMeRachel. The real Rachel Dolezal had just resigned from the NAACP after making headlines when her parents revealed she was white and not black like she claimed.

15/15
Prince Harry as a Nazi-placeholder
Prince Harry as a Nazi
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

Prince Harry as a Nazi

Back in 2005, Prince Harry caught a heck of a lot of backlash (as he should've) when he dressed as a Nazi to a costume party. Ugh, why?!?

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