- Ryan Clark said his Bill Belichick costume ‘made for entertaining television!’
Former Steelers star Ryan Clark defended his Halloween costume Thursday night after Bill Belichick’s “racist” depiction came under fire online.
Clark, who works alongside Belichick on the CW’s ‘Inside The NFL,’ wore a white fur mask and gray wig to look like the former Patriots coach on Wednesday. writing in X who spent “three hours” in a chair while the prosthesis was applied.
However, despite having Belichick’s blessing, Clark was criticized for what he called the “whiteface mafia,” but said Thursday that there is “no equivalent” to “blackface.”
‘Blackface’ was invented by lower-status white people because it distanced them from their class, and then the film industry used it to mock black people,” he wrote. ‘It was part of oppression. Black Face is RACIST… from its inception, to its execution, to its intention. There is no equivalent, because there is no equivalent in oppression.’
Clark added that Belichick provided his game-worn sweatshirt and whistle for the costume, which was “loved” on the set of NFL Films and by the 72-year-old.
Ryan Clark caused controversy on the internet by wearing a white fur mask for Halloween
Belichick also dressed as Clark, as the legendary coach wore a two-tone suit
“I wanted to honor the coach,” he said. ‘Honor his love of Halloween, the energy he treats me with every day, and being able to wear the real clothes he wore to become the greatest trainer of all time! We had fun. I have no regrets and would do it all over again!’
Notably, Belichick also dressed as Clark (sans mask or makeup), as he wore a two-tone suit to look like him, while his ‘Inside the NFL’ panelmates Chris Long and Chad Johnson also wore Clark’s jerseys. other.
Still, fans were not satisfied with Clark’s explanation for his costume.
‘Oh, so when white people want to honor black people, it’s racist, but when you do it, it’s not?’ Get the hell out of here with your racist fools,” one wrote.
‘Isn’t this face white? Can you imagine the outrage if a white guy dressed up as Deion (Sanders) and did this?,” another posted earlier.
Belichick, seen in 2006, was known for his extremely casual fashion on the sidelines.
Clark spent most of his 13-year NFL career with the Steelers. He was part of the Super Bowl winning team in the 2009 season.
“Haha bro will do this and then talk about equality for 3 hours on his podcast,” said another.
And a fourth called him a “hypocrite.”
However, others had no problem with the costume.
‘Fair play. All about intention. The word or the action doesn’t matter,’ wrote one.
“All you white people who get to call this face white, at least it’s a mask and makeup,” wrote another X user. ‘Y’all just paint your skin BLACK, not even the right shade of brown, and parade around like ‘black people’. And the man he’s disguised as is right next to him.
“Belichick gave you the thumbs up,” another fan added. ‘In addition, it is a mask for those who have a problem. Very different.’
Belichick also rocked a fun costume with his girlfriend Jordon Hudson, as they dressed up as a fisherman and a mermaid respectively.