Actress Julia Fox has found herself at the center of a heated debate after attending a Halloween party in a costume that recreated Jackie Kennedy’s iconic blood-stained pink suit from November 22, 1963. The 35-year-old star, known as a breakout star in the 2020 film “Uncut Gems,” defended her choice on Instagram, describing it as a bold statement about trauma, power, and femininity.
In a post accompanied by photos of her outfit, Fox explained her decision: “I’m dressed as Jackie Kennedy in the pink suit. Not as a 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…” Her explanation was met with mixed reactions, with some users embracing her artistic expression while others criticized the perceived insensitivity of reenacting a moment of profound national trauma for personal gain.
Social media quickly erupted with scathing comments, with some users calling the costume offensive and inappropriate. One user wrote, “Some people want to leave a mark so bad, they don’t care if it’s a stain. Very distasteful. Imagine what her family thinks when they see this and have to revisit this horrific day.” Another user commented, “For her, it was an extraordinary act of bravery. For you it’s just attention seeking and horribly disrespectful. Do better.” A user on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote, “Apparent actress Julia Fox dresses as Jackie Kennedy moments after JFK’s assassination. What the hell is wrong with people?” These reactions highlight the polarizing nature of her costume choice, with many questioning the respect and sensitivity involved in using such a poignant historical moment for Halloween.
Historically, Jackie Kennedy’s decision not to change out of her blood-stained clothes following the assassination of her husband has been viewed as an act of courage, a moment of defiant grace in the face of tragedy. The real-life pink suit, along with Kennedy’s shoes, handbag, and stockings, were reportedly blood-covered and folded in a towel after the fatal shooting. According to the Los Angeles Times, the former First Lady’s maid, Providencia Paredes, did not clean the outfit, and it was later sent to the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland, before July 1964. The preserved suit, now a part of the public record, has become a powerful symbol of both personal tragedy and the aftermath of a national crisis.
Fox’s defense of her costume choice underscores a broader debate about the intersection of art, history, and cultural sensitivity. While she framed her decision as an exploration of themes such as trauma, power, and femininity, critics argue that the use of a historical symbol so closely tied to a national tragedy may lack the necessary respect for the past. As the controversy continues to gain traction online, the case of Julia Fox’s costume serves as a reminder of the sensitivity involved in addressing historical memory and its place in contemporary culture.