Jessica Alba has deleted Halloween photos from her social media accounts after facing backlash for her costume depicting figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in the aftermath of the 1994 attack. Alba's friend, Kelly Sawyer, dressed as Tonya Harding, Kerrigan's rival.
The photos, initially posted on Instagram and later found on the sister site Threads, showed Alba in a white ensemble with an ice skate and a bandage on her knee with fake blood. Sawyer's costume included a sparkly dress and a baseball bat, referencing the infamous incident.
The 1994 attack occurred at the US Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, where Kerrigan was struck on the leg with a baton. The event led to Kerrigan withdrawing from the championships but she recovered in time to win a silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
Tonya Harding was later banned for life from the US Figure Skating Association after pleading guilty to conspiring to hinder prosecution. Her ex-husband and his associate served prison time for their roles in the attack.
Alba's costume drew criticism for trivializing a violent event. The actress later removed the images from her public profiles. The controversy highlights the sensitive nature of historical events as inspiration for costumes, particularly those involving violence and trauma.