With Halloween coming up it is important to remember that dressing in blackface is never OK and that includes Halloween costumes; talk show host Megyn Kelly learned the hard way.

The “Megyn Kelly Today” show was canceled after the host, v made some racist remarks defending blackface as “OK” for Halloween costumes.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Kelly took place in a roundtable discussion about “how the costume police are cracking down on Halloween costumes”, and one of those “crackdowns” was dressing in blackface.

“What is racist?” Kelly asked. “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was O.K., as long as you were dressing up as a character.”

Kelly was born in 1970 and looking back it doesn’t seem like blackface was ever recommended for costumes when she was a kid.

Let’s just say it was fine to dress in blackface in the 70’s. That was then, but times are different now.

Today racism is still a sensitive topic and society is done with racists, so Kelly’s justification for defending blackface today is irrelevant and makes for a foolish comment.

The subject matter is necessary with Halloween a day away because many on social media are advising their followers to not dress in black or brown face, which many people would think is an obvious tip but following Kelly’s comments, the issue might need to be addressed.

Plain and simple, do not darken or change your skin to portray another race for a Halloween costume, you are asking for dirty looks and comments.

People are also on the issue of dressing as someone whose race is different than yours for Halloween.

Certain costumes have crossed the line by using someone’s culture for dress up and almost all are sexualized. Although it might not seem like a big deal to dress as a Gypsy or indigenous people, the costumes for sale represent false stereotypes of other lifestyles.

If you think dressing as a stereotype isn’t offensive there are Mexican costumes for sale that depict Mexicans as alcoholics dressed in ponchos and sombreros; sounds offensive doesn’t it?

Now, if a kid wants to dress as their favorite characters like Miguel from Coco, Mulan, Aladdin or even Moana and Maui, let them. They’re kids and all they want is to be their favorite character for a day—they’re not trying to be offensive.

For the adults, you know the rules, so play by them, don’t be ignorant and do something that might affect your job status like Kelly.   

There are plenty of costumes out there that will not offend others so be creative.

Catherine Ramirez may be reached at [email protected].