Julianne Hough, the dancer turned singer and actress best known for her appearances on Dancing With the Stars and Safe Haven, has apologised for appearing at a Halloween party in blackface. Her costume was rather insensitively based on Uzo Adubo's character on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black.

Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough (R) apologised for appearing in blackface at a Halloween party.

Hough attended the Casamigos Tequila Halloween Party with friends dressed as characters from the hit series. Hough's costume based on the character 'Crazy Eyes' involved the actress donning an orange jumpsuit and tying her hair up in the character's signature knotty buns. The 25-year-old actress also applied blackface, a former theatrical makeup technique now considered incredibly offensive. 

Uzo Aduba
Uzo Aduba appears in Orange Is the New Black as 'Crazy Eyes'.

Hough, apparently, did not mean to cause offense and has apologised for her decision to appear in such a costume. She tweeted her motives behind the costume 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 starred Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman, a 30 something from a respectable family who is imprisoned when her drug-smuggling former lesbian lover turns her in. The series followed Chapman's adjustment to prison life including her encounter with 'Crazy Eyes', a fellow inmate who became enamoured with her. Jason Biggs stars as Chapman's fiancé who struggles to come to terms with their separation and her choice of prison 'friends'. A new series of the show is set to air sometime next year. 

Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough without offensive makeup.