Predictably, the sheer volume of negative reaction prompted Julia Fox to issue a lengthy public statement, defending her artistic choice and explaining the deeper meaning behind the ensemble. She adamantly insisted the look was “not a costume, but as a statement.”
Key Points from Fox’s Explanation
Fox’s defense centered on viewing Jackie Kennedy’s decision not to change her blood-stained clothes as an act of powerful protest and defiance. Her key arguments included:
- An Act of Bravery: Fox asserted that Jackie Kennedy’s refusal to change was an “act of extraordinary bravery—performance, protest, and mourning all at once.”
- The Quote: She referenced the widely circulated account that Jackie Kennedy refused to remove the suit, saying, “I want them to see what they’ve done.” Fox highlighted this as a purposeful weaponization of image and grace to expose brutality.
- Feminine Resistance: For Julia Fox, the look was fundamentally about “trauma, power, and how femininity itself is a form of resistance.” She argued that the juxtaposition of the “delicate pink suit splattered with blood is one of the most haunting juxtapositions in modern history. Beauty and horror. Poise and devastation.”
This explanation frames the outfit not as a mere Halloween gimmick, but as a piece of sociopolitical performance art intended to force a conversation about how women navigate public and private trauma.
Public and Political Backlash
Despite the detailed artistic justification, the reaction was overwhelmingly one of shock and condemnation. The sentiment held by many was that the assassination of a U.S. President is not a suitable subject for aesthetic commentary, particularly for a celebration like Halloween.
The Kennedy Family Weighs In
The most potent and attention-grabbing criticism came from the Kennedy family itself. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of JFK and Jackie Kennedy, publicly lashed out at the actress on social media.
- Jack Schlossberg’s Response: Schlossberg wrote, “Julia Fox glorifying political violence is disgusting, desperate, and dangerous. I’m sure her late grandmother would agree.”
- Public Opinion: Social media users widely echoed this sentiment, calling the look “disrespectful,” “tasteless,” and an exploitation of historical grief for viral attention. Many insisted that tragedy is not a costume.
Biography of Julia Fox: Life, Career, and Public Personal
| Category | Key Details | Timeline/Years |
| Early Life & Background | ||
| Birth & Upbringing | Born in Milan, Italy, to an Italian mother and an American father. Moved to New York City (Yorkville, Manhattan) at age 6 to live with her father. She had a difficult, itinerant adolescence, spending time between Italy and NYC. | 1990 (Born) – c. 2005 |
| Adolescence & Struggles | Experienced a challenging upbringing, including verbal abuse and a period of couch-surfing. She has been open about struggles with drug use, bouts of homelessness, and a suicide attempt at age 16, which led to a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder. | c. 2005 – 2008 |
| Early Career: Art & Design | ||
| Dominatrix Work | Worked as a professional dominatrix for a period in her late teens/early twenties, a time she recounts candidly in her memoir. | Early 2010s |
| Fashion Design | Co-founded a successful women’s luxury knitwear line called Franziska Fox with her friend Briana Andalore. | c. 2010 – 2015 |
| Modeling & Art | Modeled for magazines like Vogue and Playboy (appearing in its last nude edition in 2015). Worked as an exhibiting painter and photographer, notably hosting a 2017 art exhibit titled “R.I.P. Julia Fox'” featuring canvases painted with her own blood. | 2015 – 2019 |
| Breakthrough to Mainstream Fame | ||
| Acting Debut | Made her feature film debut in the Safdie Brothers’ acclaimed thriller, Uncut Gems, playing the mistress and showroom saleswoman, Julia De Fiore. This was her breakthrough role, earning her a Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor. | 2019 |
| Other Film Roles | Starred in the film PVT Chat (2021) and appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move (2021). | 2021 – Present |
| Personal Life & Relationships | ||
| Marriage | Married private pilot Peter Artemiev in a quick ceremony in Las Vegas. | 2018 (Married) |
| Motherhood | Gave birth to her son, Valentino, whom she shares with Peter Artemiev. | January 2021 |
| Divorce | Her divorce from Peter Artemiev was finalized. Fox has since publicly called him out (and later apologized) regarding co-parenting issues. | 2020 (Divorced) |
| Kanye West (Ye) Relationship | Had a highly publicized, brief romantic relationship with rapper Kanye West (Ye), which elevated her global media profile and cemented her status as a pop culture figure. | Early 2022 |
| Public Persona & Memoir | ||
| Memoir Release | Published her unfiltered debut memoir, Down the Drain, chronicling her dramatic and chaotic life experiences. | October 2023 |
| Iconic Style | Known for her distinct avant-garde, post-punk, and experimental fashion style, including her signature heavy black eyeliner and “Uncut Gems” persona. | Ongoing |
| Social Commentary | Frequently goes viral for her candid, philosophical, and often controversial remarks on social media, cementing her role as a unique cultural commentator. | Ongoing |
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Who Is Julia Fox? Beyond the Controversy
While the Halloween outfit is the immediate reason for the trend, Julia Fox is a multi-hyphenate artist with a career built on unconventional choices and public self-expression.
A Career Defined by Boldness
- Breakthrough Role: Fox first gained widespread attention for her critically acclaimed, award-nominated performance as Julia De Fiore in the 2019 crime thriller Uncut Gems, opposite Adam Sandler.
- Art and Fashion: Prior to acting, she was known in the New York art scene as a clothing designer, model (posing for Playboy), and a visual artist whose work often incorporated unconventional or provocative materials.
- Kanye West (Ye) Connection: She achieved peak tabloid and pop culture fame in early 2022 during her very public, albeit brief, relationship with rapper Kanye West (Ye). This period cemented her persona as an unfiltered fashion icon and commentary machine.
- Memoir: In 2023, Fox released her debut memoir, Down the Drain, detailing her complex and often difficult past, including her time as a dominatrix, her struggles with addiction, and her journey as a mother.
Her entire public presence is built on a foundation of theatrical self-awareness and confrontation, making her a lightning rod for this kind of intense public debate.
FAQ
Q1: Who is Julia Fox?
Julia Fox is an American actress, model, artist, and socialite who gained recognition for her role in the film Uncut Gems and her brief, high-profile relationship with Kanye West (Ye). She is renowned for her bold and often controversial fashion choices.
Q2: Why is Julia Fox trending now?
She is trending due to the controversy surrounding her 2025 Halloween costume, which was a depiction of a blood-splattered Jackie Kennedy Onassis, a look that many viewed as disrespectful to a national tragedy.
Q3: What was her Halloween costume specifically?
The costume was a replica of the blood-stained pink Chanel-style suit that former First Lady Jackie Kennedy was wearing at the time of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.
Q4: Did the Kennedy family comment on the costume?
Yes, JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, publicly condemned the costume, calling it “disgusting, desperate, and dangerous.”
Q5: What was Julia Fox’s defense of the costume?
She explained that it was not a costume but a “statement.” She argued that Jackie Kennedy’s refusal to change the suit was an act of extraordinary bravery and resistance against brutality, making the image a powerful symbol of trauma and power.
Q6: Is this the first time Julia Fox has sparked controversy with her fashion?
No. Julia Fox is well-known for her avant-garde, boundary-pushing fashion looks that frequently generate media attention and debate.
Q7: What is the historical significance of Jackie Kennedy’s pink suit?
The blood-stained pink suit is a profound artifact of American history, symbolizing the sudden, violent loss of President Kennedy and the composure of the First Lady amid chaos. The actual suit is preserved, unwashed, in the National Archives.
Q8: Does Julia Fox have a background in performance art?
Yes, her career started in the arts, where she has been a painter, photographer, and designer, with a history of using provocative themes and materials in her work.
Q9: Did the controversy help or hurt Julia Fox’s career?
While opinions are divided, the immense trending status confirms that the look successfully generated massive global attention, which aligns with her brand as a shock-value performance artist.
Q10: What is Julia Fox’s most famous film role?
Her most famous role is as Julia De Fiore in the 2019 film Uncut Gems.
