Nationwide — P&O Cruises Australia has issued an apology after crew costumes were supposedly “mistakenly” interpreted as resembling Ku Klux Klan hoods during a family Christmas event. The company clarified that the outfits were intended to represent snow cones.
The incident occurred on a cruise from Melbourne to Tasmania, which left on December 19. A guest filmed crew members in all-white outfits with pointed hoods walking behind someone dressed as Santa Claus. The video quickly spread on social media, causing confusion among passengers.
In a statement, a P&O Cruises spokesperson emphasized that the costumes were meant to add holiday cheer and were not intended to offend. The spokesperson added that the crew removed the outfits shortly after management intervened.
“The crew members were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause. We sincerely apologize for any offense this caused passengers and the broader community,” the spokesperson said, according to USA Today.
The Ku Klux Klan, widely condemned as a hate group, has a long history of targeting Black Americans, Jewish people, and other marginalized communities, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.