Jessica Alba‘s Halloween costume has sparked a messy celebrity debate, and comedian Zack Peter just added fuel to the fire. The actress, 45, deleted photos of her Nancy Kerrigan costume from Instagram after facing heavy criticism. Then Peter weighed in with a sarcastic comment that dragged Martha Stewart‘s own costume controversy into the conversation.
The Costume That Set Off the Backlash
Alba dressed as Nancy Kerrigan for a Halloween party in Los Angeles on October 31, 2026. The event, hosted by Vas J Morgan and Michael Braun, had a “Hockey Horror” theme. Alba wore a white lace skating dress, white tights, ice skates, and a knee bandage covered in fake blood. Her friend Kelly Sawyer, co-CEO of Baby2Baby, dressed as Tonya Harding and carried a baseball bat.
Alba posted photos from the party on Instagram on November 1 with the caption, “Happy Halloween from Tonya … and Nancy.” The post was gone by the next day.
Why People Were Upset
Comments on Alba’s post split almost immediately. Some followers called the costume tone-deaf because it turned a real act of violence into a Halloween joke. “Immature. We expect better, Jessica,” one person wrote, according to Page Six. Another asked why the pair would “revisit this traumatic moment that ended people’s careers” and make “a Halloween costume out of a victim of an attack.”
Others defended Alba. Some Reddit users pointed out that the incident happened more than 30 years ago and has already been turned into multiple films and TV movies. “Eh. It’s been over 30 years, there’s been two feature films and, like, five made for TV movies about it. It seems like a pretty tame joke at this point,” one person wrote, according to Nine.
By November 2, the photos were gone from Alba’s Instagram. They remained visible on her Threads account, where most comments were positive, People reported.
Zack Peter’s Sharp Swipe
Zack Peter, host of the podcast No Filter with Zack Peter, reacted to the controversy on November 2. The comedian and pop culture commentator did not hold back. “Should’ve dressed as homeless people instead,” he said.
The comment was a direct reference to Martha Stewart, who faced her own Halloween costume scandal the same weekend. Stewart, 85, posted a photo of herself dressed as a homeless person with ripped clothes, dirt on her face, and a sign reading “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME!!” The post was part of a carousel promoting her QVC candle collection.
Peter also reacted to Stewart’s costume, calling it “crazy” and saying the lifestyle mogul dressed like a “chic” homeless person, according to Soap Central.
Martha Stewart’s Apology
Stewart’s costume drew heavy criticism. “Poverty isn’t a costume,” one social media user wrote, according to the Evening Standard. Another said, “How insensitive do you have to be to dress up as a homeless person?”
Stewart first issued a statement saying the costume was “intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness.” That response did not calm the backlash. She then posted a second, fuller apology.
“It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up. My earlier statement didn’t go far enough. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry.”
The controversy landed during a worsening cost-of-living crisis in the U.S. A recent survey found that 47 per cent of Americans reported financial problems from rising prices, up from 30 per cent in 2025, according to CBC.
The 1994 Attack Behind the Costume
The costumes worn by Alba and Sawyer referenced one of the most notorious incidents in American sports history. On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was struck on the right knee with a police baton after a practice session at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit.
Investigators found that the attack was planned by Jeff Gillooly, Harding’s ex-husband, and Shawn Eckardt, Harding’s bodyguard. Shane Stant carried out the assault, and Derrick Smith drove the getaway car. Kerrigan had to withdraw from the national championships because of her injuries. She recovered in time to compete at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, where she won a silver medal.
Harding denied knowing about the plan at first but later admitted to overhearing her ex-husband discuss it. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hinder prosecution. She received three years of probation, 500 hours of community service, a $100,000 fine, and a lifetime ban from the U.S. Figure Skating Association. She was never criminally convicted of playing a direct role in the attack.
The saga returned to pop culture in 2017 with the film I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie as Harding. The movie received three Oscar nominations, and Allison Janney won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Harding’s mother.
Tonya Harding Is Returning to the Ice
The timing of Alba’s costume drew extra attention because Harding is preparing for a public return to figure skating. In an October 30 interview with KOIN 6, Harding, now 55, said she will take part in a show called “Tonya and Friends” on December 12, 2026, at Mountain View Ice Arena in Vancouver, Washington.
Harding began skating twice a week in the spring and has been training with a harness to rebuild her strength and balance. She is not eligible to compete in official U.S. Figure Skating Association events, but the December show gives her a chance to perform for a live audience.
“It makes my heart feel good. And I am really glad people can come see me skate again.”
No Public Comment From the Main Players
Jessica Alba has not publicly commented on the backlash. Her representatives did not respond to requests for comment from multiple outlets, including People and Page Six. Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding have also stayed silent on the costume controversy, according to Hollywood Life.
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The photos remain on Alba’s Threads account, where most comments are positive. A handful of users there still called the costume in poor taste.
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