Halloween is still a few days away, but the annual parade of offensive costumes has already begun. On Monday morning, a Florida student made headlines — and a host of cyberenemies — when she posted a photo of herself in Nicki Minaj-inspired blackface to Twitter.
The controversy came just a day after an Alabama elementary school teacher was criticized for darkening his skin to play dress up as Kanye West. (Apparently, no one learned a thing from Julianne Hough.)
Of course, blackface is only one way to mock and trivialize social and cultural issues in the name of cleverness, creativity and Jell-O shots. Here’s a quickie guide to topical ensembles that scream nothing more than ignorance and poor taste.
Bill Cosby
Courtesy of Everett Collection; AP Speaking of Jell-O . . . don’t go as Bill Cosby — or
,
or any alleged sex offender, for that matter. Save the ugly sweater for another holiday, and keep the ridicule to office kitchens and comment boxes. Cosby’s 50-some female accusers would surely appreciate it, as would anyone who’s ever been victimized in a traumatic sexual encounter. Just saying.
Lamar Odom
APC’mon, he just got out of a life-threatening coma. The Kardashians have
enough.
Caitlyn Jenner
AP (2)In a perfect world, men would know that to dress up as Caitlyn Jenner would seem transphobic and derisive, and women would understand that it undermines the trans struggle for a socially accepted identity. Nevertheless, a getup based on the former Olympian’s sensational Vanity Fair cover
Elsa from “Frozen” as top costume of the year, so what does that tell you?
Rachel Dolezal
APPretending to be someone who pretended to be black — so meta, right? Well, if you’re white, putting on a curly wig and bronzing your skin to imitate the fallen NAACP leader would be blackface, which we’ve already established is a miserable idea. Besides, pathological liar isn’t attractive on anyone.
Cecil the Lion
instagram.com/itsashbenzo; ZUMAIf you’re looking to keep things PC, pick an animal — unless it’s an endangered one unlawfully slain by an unremorseful Minnesota dentist. Do that, and you’ll end up like Ashley Benson, who earlier this month
when she asked her 9.5 million Instagram followers what they thought of her
outfit. The actress later issued an apology. Save yourself the trouble — if your costume isn’t something you’d want blasted on Page Six, don’t wear it.


