La La’s Halloween Costume: Cultural Promotion or Culturally Problematic?
written by Tiara jade
Halloween is a night where many of us dress up as our favourite characters and wear costumes we would not otherwise wear. We look forward to seeing posts from friends, family, our favourite influencers and celebrities. This Halloween, La La’s costume was met with controversy.
La La shared photos on Instagram of herself in a lavender carnival costume, adorned with jewels, a head dress, leg band and a large colourful feather backpack.
Her caption read “Never been to carnival so I brought carnival to me.”
The photos were followed up with a reel playing Trinidadian artist Machel Montano’s “10 Outta 10.” Members of the Caribbean community responded soon after with mixed responses to the costume, some saying it was beautifully done and others disappointed and upset to see their culture worn as a Halloween costume.
[Additional Read: Jason Jones: The LGBTQ+ Activist Breaking Ground in Trinidad and the United Kingdom]
While many Latin American and Caribbean countries celebrate carnival, two countries often emerge globally as the mothers of carnival. Brazil and Trinidad. In the West Indies specifically Trinidad is hailed as the mother carnival. Its significance is tied to a time of civil unrest, after the Emancipation Bill was first passed in Trinidad & Tobago. Carnival across the West Indiesrepresents freedom and celebration. Additionally, it has always been a culmination of culture and food. Week long fetes filled with soca music, social and dancehall artist performances, throwing oil and paint and wearing carnival costumes have all been done as part of the cultural celebration.
In the past few years, society has changed the narrative around what is acceptable as a Halloween costume. Taking a more conscious, fun and creative spin on costumes and leaving behind those that are offensive to other communities –specifically those that entail wearing cultural garments as a costume have been called out or stopped .
Some comments likened the costume to dressing as a Chinese geisha or Native chief, two costumes that are harmful to the cultures they represent and people who truly wear those outfits for a cultural purpose. Others commented that the problem with the costume was the time and place La La chose to wear it, that Carnival is welcome to all and the costume would be appropriate during the time of celebration, which any island would welcome.
La La’s costume was also met with positive responses from commenters acknowledging her Caribbean roots. Many felt the outfit wasn’t worn in a way that mocked or reflected carnival culture negatively, rather it promoted Caribbean culture to a larger audience, showing the beauty of the costumes worn during the significant celebration. Many West Indians would agree that non West Indians wearing a carnival costume or attending carnival are not necessarily appropriating.
Another criticism that arose is that while La La is of Puerto Rican descent, Puerto Rican culture and Hispanic culture in general are completely different cultures than Trinidadian culture. One Instagram user commented that La La is from Brooklyn which is home the the West Indian Day Labor Day Parade the public has no knowledge of her ever attending or celebrating.
While there have been many perspectives on La La’s costumes, it might be safe to say in a world where we are constantly reevaluating past behaviors once deemed acceptable, it’s better to stay away from cultural wear during the spooky season.
What’s your take on La La’s costume? Is it appropriation or appreciation? Is it okay to wear a cultural costume as a Halloween costume
