Actor and model Julia Fox has sparked widespread criticism after attending a Halloween party in New York City dressed as former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in a blood-stained pink suit resembling the one she wore on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The costume, which Fox described as a symbolic “statement,” has drawn condemnation from many on social media and from members of the Kennedy family, including the late president’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg.
Fox, 35, arrived at the Oct. 30 event wearing a pink wool suit marked with red stains, a pillbox hat, white gloves and a short black wig — a direct re-creation of the outfit Jackie Kennedy wore on November 22, 1963, when her husband was fatally shot in Dallas. The costume’s imagery immediately stirred controversy, with critics calling it insensitive and exploitative for invoking a national tragedy.
Schlossberg, 32, expressed outrage over the look, posting on X that Fox’s costume was “disgusting, desperate and dangerous,” and accused her of glorifying political violence. His comments came shortly before Fox attempted to clarify her intentions on Instagram, saying her outfit was not meant as a typical Halloween costume but as an artistic statement about “trauma, power, and how femininity itself is a form of resistance.”
Fox explained that her decision to wear the outfit was inspired by the moment Jackie Kennedy refused to change out of her blood-stained clothes after the assassination, reportedly saying she wanted people “to see what they’ve done.” Fox characterized that act as one of courage and defiance — a way, she argued, for a woman to use composure and appearance to expose brutality. In her post, she described her choice as a commentary on the intersection of femininity, strength and tragedy.
Despite Fox’s explanation, many online found the decision distasteful. Commenters across social media platforms said her costume trivialized a horrific event and disrespected the Kennedy family’s memory. Others viewed it as an attempt to shock and draw attention under the guise of social commentary. Some praised her explanation as thought-provoking, but most reactions were negative, reflecting the enduring sensitivity surrounding the events of November 22, 1963.
The real-life pink Chanel suit worn by Jacqueline Kennedy remains one of the most powerful symbols of that day in American history. After the assassination, she continued wearing the outfit during the swearing-in of President Lyndon B. Johnson aboard Air Force One, despite being offered a clean change of clothes. Historians have said she did so to bear witness to what had happened and to convey both national mourning and continuity of government. The suit, still stained with blood, was transferred to the National Archives in 1964, where it remains preserved in a climate-controlled vault. According to the terms of its donation, it will not be displayed publicly until at least 2103 to protect the Kennedy family’s privacy and preserve its historical context.
Sources: People, Fox News, NBC News
