It seems as though every Halloween white people, without fail, can’t figure out how to dress up like their favorite Black celebrities without putting on blackface. And every Halloween, some white person is heading to the unemployment line after going viral for their asinine costume. Shelbi Elliott-Heenan, a Kansas City, Missouri nurse, is no exception.
Elliot-Heenan’s horrible costume, in which she’s supposed to be Beyonce along with her companion as Jay-Z, went viral on Tuesday, and now she’s unemployed. Her former employer, Saint Luke’s Health System, quickly got her out of the paint (pun intended) and issued a statement
about her racist costume.
“While it is against Saint Luke’s policy to comment on specific personnel matters, we can confirm that this individual is no longer a Saint Luke’s employee,” the statement said. “Saint Luke’s is deeply committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion. It is fundamental to who we are as an organization and we vigorously protect it on behalf of all our patients and employees and expect those who represent us to do the same.”
Maybe next time Elliot-Heenan will do a quick Google search, and figure out how to be Beyonce without the blackface. Believe me, it can be done. See exhibit A below:
