Julianne Hough, the actress who began her career on Dancing With the Stars, apologised for appearing at a Halloween fancy dress party in blackface.

Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough in her inappropriate Halloween costume.

The 25-year-old actress, who is best known for her starring role in Safe Haven, appeared at the Casamigos Tequila Halloween Party in Los Angeles on Friday, 25 October. She and a group of friends attended the party dressed as the cast of Orange Is the New Black, the hit all-womens prison drama from Netflix. Hough wore an orange jumpsuit, her hair in small knotty buns and dark face paint. Her costume was inspired by Crazy Eyes, the character played by actress Uzo Adubo on the popular online series.

Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough has apologised for her choice of costume.

Blackface is a theatrical makeup technique which was regularly used by minstrel performers and in vaudeville to create a stereotypical caricature of a black person. It is highly offensive yet was evidently not Hough's intention as she has apologised for her unfortunate choice of costume. 

Hough issued a statement on Twitter writing: "I am a huge fan of the show Orange is the New Black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created. 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."

Orange Is the New Black is a prison drama from creator Jenji Kohan. Taylor Schilling stars as Piper Chapman a woman who is imprisoned for her youthful indiscretions. She was encouraged by her lover Alex (Laura Prepon) to smuggle drugs. Piper, after separating from Alex, continues her life and acquires a fiancé (played by Jason Biggs). When Alex is finally caught, Piper is implicated and sent to jail. The show concerns Piper's adjustment to prison life.  The character Julianne Hough chose to emulate is one who becomes enamoured with Piper.

Uzo Adubo
Uzo Adubo plays the character Hough chose to dress as.