Sports

NHL player’s Michael Jackson Halloween costume called ‘racist’

Laura Byrne Contributor
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Toronto Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak posted a picture Tuesday night of his Halloween costume, Michael Jackson.

The problem? He was wearing “blackface.”

After backlash from Twitter followers for being “racist,” Bozak deleted the photo.

But he showed little remorse with this tweet: “That’s a tribute to one of my fave artists. For anyone saying its racist is crazy!”

Bozak has actually donned blackface before, dressing up one year as part of the Jamaican bobsled team.

Bozak seems to be continuing a hockey Halloween trend: Fellow NHLer and Phoenix Coyote winger Raffi Torres wore blackface when he and his wife dressed up as Jay-Z and Beyonce. Other NHL players who have worn blackface during Halloween include Adam Burish and Patrick Kane, who went to a Halloween party in 2009 dressed as basketball stars Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen.

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