Hilary Duff apologized "from the bottom of her heart" Sunday for the Halloween costumes she and new boyfriend Jason Walsh wore to a Halloween party Friday. The couple—in a photo that can be seen here—were dressed as a sexy pilgrim and a Native American chief, with personal trainer Walsh's costume including face paint and a headdress, E! Online reports. Native American groups have long said that they consider it offensive for their culture to be used as a costume. People notes that Friday was the first time Walsh and Duff have appeared in public as a couple.
Critics say the getup was particularly offensive in light of the ongoing protests at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, where the tribe says a pipeline project will disturb cultural sites, the Huffington Post reports. "I am SO sorry to people I offended with my costume," Duff tweeted. "It was not properly thought through." Walsh also apologized Sunday. "I meant no disrespect. I only have admiration for the indigenous people of America," he said in an Instagram post. "In hindsight I would not have made that decision." (More Hilary Duff stories.)