Halloween remains the one night each year when celebrities can reinvent themselves as virtually anyone—or anything.
For many stars, October 31 offers the chance to turn ambitious fashion ideas into elaborate tributes to pop-culture figures, film characters and public personalities.
Yet not every costume earns applause. Some have prompted fierce criticism after crossing lines involving race, cultural identity, tragedy, abuse and child sexual exploitation.
Past controversies have included depictions of deceased celebrities, blackface and references to domestic violence and pedophilia. So which famous faces have worn some of Halloween’s most troubling costumes?
The list includes Bill Maher, who portrayed the late Steve Irwin with a fake stingray barb and blood on his chest, and Julianne Hough, who faced backlash after appearing in blackface as a character from Orange Is the New Black.
Here is a look at some of the celebrity Halloween costumes that sparked the strongest public backlash.
Chloë Sevigny portrayed a dead Princess Diana in 1999
Chloë Sevigny appeared as a deceased Princess Diana in 1999, two years after the royal died in a Paris car crash
The much-loved former member of the Royal Family died in 1997, pictured here that April
Actress Chloë Sevigny caused controversy in 1999 by dressing as a dead version of Princess Diana.
Diana, one of the British Royal Family’s most popular figures, had died in a Paris car crash only two years earlier.
Sevigny’s costume appeared to reference the accident, with a cut painted on her chin, dark makeup around her eyes and a noticeably pale complexion.
The identity of her character was made unmistakable by the words ‘Die Di’ written across the lapel of her beige blazer.
Bill Maher appeared as the late Steve Irwin in 2006
Comedian Bill Maher wore his Steve Irwin costume one month after the animal expert, pictured right, died in a stingray attack in 2006
Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher also drew criticism when he dressed as beloved wildlife presenter Steve Irwin just one month after Irwin died in a stingray attack in September 2006.
Maher recreated Irwin’s famous Crocodile Hunter persona, adding a fake stingray barb protruding from his chest.
He later defended the joke on his talk show, saying: ‘People who really love animals understand if you get killed by one, chances are you were doing something to it you shouldn’t have been.’
Julianne Hough wore blackface as Crazy Eyes from Orange Is The New Black in 2013
Former Dancing With The Stars professional Julianne Hough dressed as Crazy Eyes, played by Uzo Aduba in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black
One of the most widely condemned celebrity costumes came from former Dancing With The Stars professional Julianne Hough, who dressed as Crazy Eyes, the character played by Uzo Aduba in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black.
Her use of blackface prompted outrage. The racist practice, which dates back to 19th-century minstrel shows, turns Black people into caricatures and reinforces degrading stereotypes.
Hough later apologized on X, writing: ‘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.’
Julia Fox appeared as a blood-soaked Jackie Kennedy in 2025
Model Julia Fox shocked fans last year with a blood-covered portrayal of Jackie Kennedy
Model Julia Fox stunned fans in 2025 when she portrayed Jackie Kennedy moments after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
She wore a replica of the former first lady’s iconic pink Chanel-style suit, then covered it in fake blood.
Fox later explained on Instagram that the outfit was not intended as a conventional costume but as a ‘statement.’
‘When her husband was assassinated, she refused to change out of her blood-stained clothes, saying, “I want them to see what they’ve done.” The image of the delicate pink suit splattered with blood is one of the most haunting juxtapositions in modern history. Beauty and horror. Poise and devastation,’ she wrote.
Khloe Kardashian dressed as a pimp with four Black women in 2003
Khloe Kardashian dressed as a pimp in 2003 alongside Malika and Khadijah Haqq, Meagan Good and La’Myia Good, who were attached to chains around their necks
Khloe Kardashian came under scrutiny after dressing as a pimp in 2003 alongside her Black friends, twins Malika and Khadijah Haqq, actress Meagan Good and Good’s sister La’Myia Good.
The women wore lingerie and apparent dog collars while Kardashian held chains attached to them.
Kardashian has not publicly addressed the costume, but Meagan Good revisited it in 2019, writing: ‘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 and a friend portrayed Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in 2023
Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire and a friend dressed as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in 2023, a year after the actors’ defamation trial
Depp and Heard are pictured together in 2011
Schitt’s Creek actress Emily Hampshire and a friend sparked backlash after dressing as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, just one year after the former couple’s highly publicized defamation case. Heard had accused Depp of abuse, allegations he strongly denied.
Photos posted to Instagram showed Hampshire holding a bottle of wine while her friend portrayed Heard with a distressed expression.
Hampshire later deleted the post and apologized, writing: ‘I am deeply sorry and ashamed for putting something that awful out in the universe. Domestic abuse is never, ever funny.’
Depp lost the libel case he brought at the UK High Court in 2020 after being described as a ‘wife beater.’ In 2022, however, he won a separate US defamation case against Heard. The jury also found in Heard’s favor on one of her three counterclaims, ruling that Depp’s lawyer had defamed her in that instance.
The legal battle severely damaged Depp’s public standing, with allegations involving domestic abuse, sexual violence, drug use and heavy drinking dominating headlines about the actor.
Scott Disick dressed as an Arab sheik in 2014
Scott Disick faced accusations of cultural appropriation after dressing as an Arab sheik in 2014
Scott Disick was accused of cultural appropriation and insensitivity after wearing traditional Arab sheik clothing for Halloween in 2014.
He posted a photo of himself beside two luxury cars on Instagram, captioning it: ‘Happy Halloween! We getting Arab money tonight.’
The backlash later featured on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, including in a deleted scene showing Disick and Kourtney Kardashian arguing about the costume’s fallout.
Adrianne Curry portrayed Amy Winehouse with a syringe in 2011
ANTM winner Adrianne Curry imitated Amy Winehouse with a questionable costume and a fake syringe referencing the singer’s addiction struggles in 2011
Winehouse died from alcohol intoxication less than two years later, in July 2011, pictured in 2007
Model and television personality Adrianne Curry sparked criticism by dressing as Amy Winehouse before the singer’s death.
The costume referenced Winehouse’s struggles with drugs and alcohol, with Curry pretending to inject herself using a fake syringe.
Winehouse died from alcohol intoxication less than two years later, in July 2011.
Tana Mongeau dressed as a sexualized Jojo Siwa, who was 15, in 2018
YouTube star Tana Mongeau wore a sexualized Jojo Siwa costume in 2018, when Siwa was only 15
Siwa is pictured with her mother Jessalynn in 2018, aged 15
YouTube star Tana Mongeau faced criticism in 2018 after wearing a sexualized costume based on Jojo Siwa, who was 15 at the time.
Mongeau wore a pink bra and thong with blue ribbons and Siwa’s signature hair bows. She captioned the post: ‘HOE HOE SIWA.’
She also tagged the Dance Moms star in the post.
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Mongeau later responded to fans, writing: ‘Hey guys! Saw some tweets about my Jojo costume and I just wanna clarify before things get crazy. Jojo is a great friend of mine and I would never intend to sexualize HER, I literally think that anything like that is gross as f**k.’
Gwen Stefani referenced Hurricane Sandy in a 2014 costume
No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani combined references to Hurricane Sandy and Grease in her controversial 2014 look
No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani was criticized for making light of a deadly natural disaster.
Her costume referenced Hurricane Sandy, the 2012 storm that killed more than 200 people and devastated parts of the Caribbean.
Stefani played on the name by dressing as Sandy from the 1978 film Grease, adding a bloody head wound as a reference to the hurricane.
Harry Hamlin wore a swastika T-shirt as Sid Vicious in 2015
Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna apologized publicly after Hamlin portrayed Sid Vicious in 2015 while wearing a Nazi swastika shirt
Nancy Spungen was found stabbed to death in a New York hotel room in October 1978. Vicious first claimed responsibility before retracting his confession and saying he could not remember what happened, pictured in 1978
Harry Hamlin and his wife, Lisa Rinna, issued a public apology after Hamlin dressed as Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious in 2015, complete with a Nazi swastika shirt.
The costume referenced Vicious, who was accused of killing his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, and quickly drew widespread condemnation.
Rinna apologized on Instagram, writing: ‘If I hurt you, we were being authentic to the characters of Sid and Nancy for our Halloween costumes. It hurt and angered many of you and we are deeply sorry for that.’
‘That was never our intention. We did not mean to offend.’
Spungen was found stabbed to death in a New York hotel room in October 1978.
Vicious initially said he had killed her, then withdrew the confession and claimed he did not remember what had happened.
He later died at the age of 21 from an overdose after being released on bail.
Billie Eilish and Jesse Rutherford joked about their age gap in 2022
Billie Eilish and then-boyfriend Jesse Rutherford referenced their age difference with Halloween costumes
Eilish was 20 and Rutherford was 31, prompting criticism over their age gap and the fact that he had known her since she was 15, pictured in 2022
Billie Eilish and her then-boyfriend Jesse Rutherford attracted criticism after using their Halloween costumes to joke about the age difference between them.
Eilish was 20 at the time, while Rutherford was 31. Fans also questioned that he had known her since she was 15.
The pair appeared to make light of the controversy, with Eilish dressed as a baby and Rutherford portraying a much older man.
Jeff Ross portrayed Joe Paterno with football players wearing towels in 2012
Comedian Jeff Ross dressed as controversial college football coach Joe Paterno in 2012
Comedian Jeff Ross appeared as controversial college football coach Joe Paterno at the Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr.
The costume was accompanied by two men wearing only football helmets and towels, further intensifying the backlash.
Paterno’s career had ended the previous year amid the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.
His assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was indicted on 52 counts of child molestation involving incidents between 1994 and 2009.
Sandusky was ultimately convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse in June 2012.
Chris Brown appeared to dress as a Taliban member in 2012
Singer Chris Brown appeared to dress as a member of the Taliban for Halloween in 2012
Chris Brown attended Rihanna’s Halloween party in 2012 wearing an outfit that appeared to resemble a member of the Taliban, a designated terrorist organization.
Brown did not personally address the criticism, but his mother later wrote on X: ‘HALLOWEEN IS FOR FUN NOTHING MORE THAN JUST FUN.’
‘GET A LIFE PLEASE.’
OJ Simpson dressed as a gynecologist named Seymour Bush
In 2018, recently released former murder suspect OJ Simpson dressed as gynecologist Dr Seymour Bush
Simpson was arrested for a Las Vegas robbery about 13 years after his acquittal in the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, pictured with Nicole in 1993
In 2018, shortly after leaving prison, OJ Simpson attended a Las Vegas costume party dressed as a gynecologist. His name tag read ‘Dr Seymour Bush.’
Simpson had been convicted in 2008 after robbing a memorabilia dealer at gunpoint.
The Naked Gun star received a 33-year prison sentence but was released on parole in 2017 after serving nine years.
His prison term came roughly 13 years after he was acquitted of the double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Shaun White portrayed Simple Jack in 2018
Shaun White sparked outrage in 2018 by dressing as Simple Jack from Tropic Thunder, prompting criticism from the Special Olympics
Newly single snowboarder Shaun White faced backlash in 2018 after dressing as Simple Jack, a character from the film Tropic Thunder.
Played by Ben Stiller, Simple Jack is a fictional character with intellectual disabilities.
The Special Olympics criticized White, who later apologized, writing: ‘The Special Olympics were right to call me out on it.’
‘They do great work supporting so many tremendous athletes and I am sorry for being insensitive. Lesson learned.’
Ashley Benson appeared as Cecil the Lion in 2015
Ashley Benson faced criticism after appearing to dress as Cecil the Lion, who was killed by a trophy hunter
Ashley Benson was criticized online after appearing in an advertisement dressed as Cecil the Lion.
The original post named the animal, though that reference was later edited before the post was deleted entirely.
Cecil was killed in July 2015 by American dentist and trophy hunter Walter Palmer in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, sparking international outrage.
Benson denied that the costume referenced Cecil, writing: ‘Yesterday’s post was in poor taste and I absolutely regret all of the hurt that photo caused.’
‘My costume was not Cecil the Lion, when I saw that, I contacted my management who handled the post and had it immediately changed.’
Heidi Klum dressed as the Hindu goddess Kali in 2008
Halloween icon Heidi Klum was criticized for her 2008 portrayal of the Hindu goddess Kali
Heidi Klum is widely known as Halloween’s ‘Queen’ because of her annual star-studded parties and elaborate costumes.
In 2008, however, she faced criticism after appearing as the Hindu goddess Kali, who represents death and time as well as sexuality, violence, destruction, maternal power and love.
The costume offended many people, particularly members of the Hindu community. Klum has never publicly addressed the controversy.
Klum is far from the only celebrity accused of cultural appropriation or racial insensitivity at Halloween. More controversial costumes appear below…
Justin Trudeau appeared in brownface in 2001
Kate Hudson and friends portrayed Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his followers, as referenced in the 2018 Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country
Colton Haynes used blackface as Kanye West in 2011 and brownface as Gandhi in 2012
Luann de Lesseps appeared in blackface as Diana Ross in 2018
Jason Aldean appeared in blackface as Lil Wayne in 2015
Joni Mitchell used blackface to portray a Black man at a 1976 Halloween party
Hilary Duff and then-boyfriend Jason Walsh dressed as a pilgrim and Native American in 2016
Nicky Hilton appeared as a Native American in 2015
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend dressed as a cowboy and Native American in 2008
Tia Mowry appeared as a geisha in 2013
