Celebs Who Faced Backlash For Their 2026 Halloween Costumes

Every year at the end of October, social media becomes a digital Halloween parade. Celebrities and average people alike post snapshots of their most clever costumes, and we love to see how creative everyone can be. While the worst celebrity Halloween costumes of 2026 were lackluster and boring, there were plenty of others than crossed the line from "tacky" to "completely inappropriate." News outlets and social media users alike were quick to point out the most problematic costumes and call out the celebs who wore them for their lack of care.  

With major celebs like Martha Stewart, Jessica Alba, and Paris Hilton finding themselves entrenched in controversy for their Halloween looks, it is clear that nobody is exempt from being tone-deaf even in 2026. The most contentious costumes of the year ranged from incredibly insensitive to merely divisive on social media. No matter how you feel about these costumes, it's clear that some celebs (Stewart in particular) need to think deeper about their Halloween choices next year — especially before posting them for the entire internet to see.  

Martha Stewart has been a beloved figure in the world of cooking and hosting for decades. However, her most recent controversy has altered how many perceive the business mogul. On Halloween, Stewart posted and then deleted an image of herself seemingly dressed as a caricature of a homeless person, complete with a dirty face, ripped clothing, and a sign that read "I Am Hungry. Help Me!" After beginning to catch negative attention online for her costume, Stewart initially said that she meant to raise awareness for the homelessness crisis rather than mock. The fact that Martha Stewart's lavish life is jaw-dropping only added insult to injury. "I am distressed that my Halloween costume yesterday, which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention," Stewart told TMZ. 

The next day, Stewart apologized for her costume again, this time on Instagram. "It's hard to admit when you've really screwed up. My earlier statement didn't go far enough," Stewart wrote in a since deleted post (per Today). "I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry." Despite Stewart's acknowledgement, many fans did not accept it. "Do you realize how many children go hungry each day and adults," one person wrote beneath an unrelated post of Stewart's from November 1. "I am so disappointed in you, Martha," another said. Given the current affordability crisis many Americans are facing, it is no surprise that Stewart is being raked across the coals for her lack of sensitivity. 

Like many others, Jessica Alba posted a snapshot of her Halloween costume to Instagram on November 1. However, her problematic costume was quick to attract negative attention. In a screenshot of her now-deleted post shared by US Weekly, the "Valentine's Day" star dressed as figure skating star Nancy Kerrigan after her brutal 1994 assault. Alba wore a white lace skating costume with a bloody bandage wrapped around her left knee to mimic the injury Kerrigan sustained during the attack. Alba's friend Kelly Sawyer dressed as skater Tonya Harding, who was found guilty of hindering the investigation around the attack (and is speculated to have conspired with her ex-husband and bodyguard who were both involved in the crime). Sawyer wore a dark red skating costume, white boots, and carried a wooden bat.

Internet users were quick to point out how insensitive Alba's costume was. Though Alba quickly deleted all evidence of the costume from her social media accounts, the Daily Express published a few of the comments from Alba's original post before it was taken down. "Why would you want to revisit this traumatic moment that ended people's careers?" one commenter wrote. "Wow, first Martha and now Jessica. Why are we being nasty this Halloween?" another said, referencing Martha Stewart's costume portraying an unhoused individual. Jessica Alba may not let strict fashion rules dictate her style anymore, but perhaps she should have erred on the side of caution this Halloween.

Paris Hilton was one of the most iconic figures of the early aughts. While the heiress has had her fair share of controversies over the years, Hilton has maintained a relatively low-key presence since becoming a parent. However, one of Hilton's 2026 family Halloween costumes caused a stir on X. On October 26, Hilton posted a photoshoot themed from the Disney film "Beauty and the Beast" to the platform. Hilton herself was dressed as the film's central princess Belle, her husband Carter Reum as the Beast, and their children Phoenix and London respectively as enchanted household objects Lumiere and Chip. 

While not among the best Y2K outfits Paris Hilton has rocked in the 2000s, her beautiful ballgown was the spitting image of the Disney princess. For as cute as the family photo was, many commenters did not like the fact that Hilton chose to dress up as Belle while her daughter was relegated to a side character. "Weird to make yourself the princess and the kid a prop, ngl," one person wrote. "When do your kids get to be the main character?" another said. Others disagreed, noting that the family's costume was well put-together and sweet. "Not sure what all the negativity is for. This just looks like a fun Halloween family photo. Very cute and wholesome," a fan said. "Having your sweet little girl as chip is adorable," another wrote. "I'm sorry about all the other comments who don't get it." A few days later, Hilton took to Instagram to clarify that her daughter's favorite character is Chip — and the child wanted to be him over Belle.