Julianne Hough apologizes for blackface costume

Julianne Hough has apologized after photos went viral of her at a Halloween party in blackface, portraying the African-American character "Crazy Eyes" on the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black."

"I am a huge fan of the show Orange Is the New black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created," Hough, 25, tweeted Saturday following her appearance at the costume party Friday night. "It certainly was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way. I realize my costume hurt and offended people and I truly apologize."

Hough arrived at a Beverly Hills party with friends collaborating on an "Orange Is the New Black" theme. She and another woman wearing orange prison jumpsuits were accompanied by a man dressed as prison guard George "Pornstache" Mendez, played by Pablo Schreiber. Hough had her face made-up brown and her hair done in knots like that of Aduba's character.

Aduba's representative did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.

The actress portrays Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren, an unstable, highly troubled yet ultimately decent inmate who develops a crush on lead character Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), whom Hough's blond, Halloween-party female friend was evidently playing.

Aduba was nominated for a 2004 Helen Hayes Award for her work in regional theater and debuted on Broadway three years later in "Coram Boy." She is running this year's New York City Marathon as part of the cancer-research fundraising group Team Continuum.