Hot corner: Raffi Torres criticized for blackface costume
October 31, 2011 9:20PM
Raffi Torres
Updated: December 2, 2011 8:19AM
Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is being criticized for wearing blackface while dressed as rapper Jay-Z at a Halloween party.
Fans and some media started criticizing Torres and his wife, Gianna, after teammate Paul Bissonnette posted a photo on Twitter of the couple wearing blackface as they dressed up as Jay-Z and singer Beyonce Knowles at a team Halloween party Sunday.
Torres wore a Yankees hat, black sunglasses and a white T-shirt as part of his costume, while his wife wore a sparkly dress with a ‘‘baby bump’’ underneath, a nod to Knowles’ revelation in August that she was pregnant.
The Coyotes issued a statement about the costume, denouncing the reaction or claims that Torres is racist.
‘‘There was absolutely nothing racist about Raffi and his wife’s costumes,’’ the statement said. ‘‘Raffi is a huge fan of Jay-Z, and his wife loves Beyonce. It was a Halloween party. The fact that this was reported is ridiculous. We will have no further comment.’’
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