Jessica Alba Deletes Nancy Kerrigan Halloween Costume After Online Backlash

Actress Jessica Alba removed photos from her Instagram account after receiving heavy criticism for her Halloween costume referencing the 1994 attack on former figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. The 45-year-old star attended a Los Angeles Halloween party on October 31 dressed as Kerrigan, complete with a white lace skating dress and a bandage wrapped around her knee streaked with fake blood.

Alongside Alba, a friend dressed as Kerrigan's former skating rival, Tonya Harding, and carried a baseball bat. Alba posted the pictures to her grid with the caption, "Happy Halloween from Tonya … and Nancy," before taking them down by Monday following widespread online disapproval.

The costume directly referenced the infamous 1994 sports scandal in which an assailant hired by Harding's ex-husband struck Kerrigan in the knee with a metal baton to force her out of Olympic qualifiers. While Harding received a lifetime ban from the U.S. Figure Skating Association after admitting to overhearing plans of the attack, Kerrigan recovered to win a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Public reaction on social media platforms quickly turned negative as users questioned the decision to turn a violent assault on a real victim into a humorous holiday look. Commenters labeled the outfit immature and criticized the choice to revisit a traumatic event that severely impacted careers.

One critic wrote in the comments section, "Immature. We expect better, Jessica," while another added, "Why would you want to revisit this traumatic moment that ended people's careers?" Other social media users echoed these sentiments, arguing that human suffering should not be treated as a lighthearted costume idea.

Despite the backlash, some defenders argued that the outfits were merely a creative sports reference and noted that the historical rivalry has frequently been adapted into pop culture, including the 2017 film *I, Tonya*. Representatives for Alba have not yet issued an official statement regarding the deletion of the photos.

The controversy added Alba to a growing list of public figures who faced internet scrutiny over their Halloween attire. Other celebrities, including Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton, also drew negative commentary for their respective costume choices during the same weekend.