Julia Fox Defends Bloody Jackie Kennedy Costume
American actress Julia Fox interviewed by Dulce Osuna about her film "Uncut Gems," 2019. Photo courtesy of Dulce Osuna under CC BY 3.0.
Julia Fox ignited a firestorm of controversy when she appeared at a New York City Halloween party dressed as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the iconic pink suit soaked with blood—the very outfit Jackie wore the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Fox insisted she wore her look "not as a costume, but as a statement," aiming to channel trauma, power, and resistance through a haunting image, as reported by PEOPLE. But the public reaction was swift and fierce, with Jackie's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, condemning the outfit as "disgusting, desperate and dangerous," sparking a heated debate over the boundaries of fashion provocation and respect for historical tragedy.
A Costume With a Haunting History
On October 30, 2025, Julia Fox stepped into the spotlight at the annual Cursed Amulet Halloween party in New York City wearing a blood-soaked pink skirt suit, complete with white gloves and a pink pillbox hat. The ensemble was a near-exact recreation of the double-breasted wool suit Jackie Kennedy wore on that fateful day in November 1963 when her husband was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
Fox's choice was not a casual nod to history but a deliberate artistic statement. She explained on Instagram that Jackie's refusal to change out of her blood-stained clothes was an act of "extraordinary bravery," as reported by NBC News. Fox continued, "It was performance, protest, and mourning all at once. A woman weaponizing image and grace to expose brutality. It's about trauma, power, and how femininity itself is a form of resistance." Fox described the look as a fusion of "beauty and horror" and "poise and devastation," emphasizing femininity as a form of resistance against brutality.
The Clash of Intent and Offense
Despite Fox's thoughtful explanation, the costume ignited a wave of backlash across social media. Many users found the look deeply offensive and disrespectful, accusing Fox of trivializing a national tragedy. Comments ranged from calling the outfit "distasteful" to questioning the ethics of using such a painful moment in history as a Halloween costume, as reported by NBC News.
The most vocal critic was Jack Schlossberg, Jackie Kennedy's grandson, who publicly denounced Fox's portrayal on X, formerly Twitter. According to PEOPLE, Schlossberg called the costume "disgusting, desperate and dangerous," expressing that glorifying political violence in such a way was unacceptable and disrespectful to his family's legacy.
The Weight of History and Memory
Jackie Kennedy's pink suit is more than just a garment. It is a preserved artifact of American history, kept in a climate-controlled vault at the National Archives and Records Administration in Maryland. The suit, along with Jackie's shoes, handbag, and stockings, were blood-covered and folded in a towel after the assassination. Jackie's maid reportedly placed the outfit in a bag without cleaning it, preserving the raw reality of that tragic day.
Jackie was photographed wearing the blood-stained suit alongside Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn in as president shortly after JFK's death. Historians note that Jackie's refusal to change clothes was a deliberate act to confront the nation with the horror of the assassination and to symbolize continuity in government during a moment of crisis.
Fashion as Protest or Provocation?
Julia Fox's costume reignited a long-standing debate about the role of fashion and celebrity in addressing historical trauma. Fox framed her look as a form of performance art, protest, and mourning all at once — a way to weaponize image and grace to expose brutality. She positioned femininity as a powerful tool of resistance, echoing Jackie's own use of poise amid devastation.
Yet, the public's reaction reveals the fine line between artistic expression and insensitivity. For many, the costume crossed a boundary, turning a solemn moment into spectacle. The emotional weight of the Kennedy assassination remains raw for many Americans, and Fox's choice to embody that trauma on Halloween — a night often associated with frivolity and fun — felt jarring and inappropriate.
A Divided Response
The controversy also highlighted the generational and cultural divides in how history is remembered and represented. Some praised Fox's courage to confront difficult subjects through fashion, calling the costume a "powerful" and "haunting" tribute, as reported by PEOPLE. Others saw it as a reckless act that disrespected the memory of a beloved first lady and a nation still grappling with the legacy of political violence.
Fox's Instagram post drew a mix of supportive comments and criticism, reflecting the polarized nature of public discourse around celebrity statements and historical memory. The debate underscores how images from the past continue to resonate and provoke strong emotions in the present.
The Enduring Legacy of Jackie O
Jackie Kennedy Onassis remains an enduring icon of grace under pressure, a symbol of strength in the face of unimaginable loss. Her pink suit is a stark reminder of a moment that changed America forever. Julia Fox's decision to channel that image was bold and provocative, forcing a confrontation with history that many found uncomfortable.
Julia Fox's bloody Jackie Kennedy costume was more than a Halloween look. It was a lightning rod for debate, a mirror reflecting the complexities of history, memory, and the power of image in shaping how we understand the past.
References: Julia Fox defends controversial blood-spattered Jackie Kennedy Halloween costume | Julia Fox defends bloody Jackie Kennedy Halloween costume amid backlash | Julia Fox Defends Blood-Soaked Jackie Kennedy Halloween Costume Following Backlash
