Celebrity stylist slams MAFS couple over 'tone deaf' Halloween costume

Celebrity stylist Jamie Azzopardi has slammed Married At First Sight lovebirds Evelyn Ellis and Duncan James over their 'scary' choice of Halloween costume. 

Evelyn and Duncan shared a carousel of photos of themselves dressed up as each other to Instagram on Thursday. 

Duncan, 39, went full red carpet glam as he donned drag, wearing a handmade replica of his girlfriend's 2023 Logies ensemble. 

Meanwhile, the MAFS' 'hot bride', 28, wore a black tuxedo and wig paired with faux facial hair.

'Spooky szn (season),' she wrote in the caption.

'This year we decided to take things a little further and fully commit, this took so bloody long haha and was one of the scariest things we’ve ever done. 

'PS I don’t look like Duncan at all.' 

Evelyn and Duncan also dressed up as one another for Halloween in 2023 and were widely praised by their fans and fellow cast members for their costume. 

But the influencer couple's handiwork hit a sour note for Jamie, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.

He said it was hurtful to see a heterosexual couple play with gender performance and be praised for it - while the the LGBTQ+ community is persecuted for doing the same thing.

'It's unfortunate that it’s posed like the "scariest thing" you could do in life is cross dress,' Jamie told Daily Mail Australia. 

'I don't know how else to read that caption. It's tone deaf.' 

The Sydney-based stylist likened the couple's costume to a white person dressing up as a person of colour with blackface, or choosing to 'wear' a culture as a costume for Halloween. 

'I love Duncan and Evelyn and I know he has queer friends and family, so this move was out of character for them,' Jamie said. 

'I don’t think either of them are homophobic. That’s not my point. But if you're saying "This is scary", then you're making fun of people like me.' 

Evelyn and Duncan rose to fame on the 2023 season of Australia's highest-rating reality series and although they were 'TV married' to different partners, wound up together.  

The stylist also shared private direct messages, which they sent to the couple, and their responses with Daily Mail. 

'Hey guys, sorry to be a pain but I've been asked about this, so I've decided to do the mature thing and tell you how I feel,' Jamie began their DM to Duncan and Evelyn. 

'I think this can come off a little offensive and tone deaf to your queer friends!' 

'To live in a city like Sydney and be a representation of modern Australians, I think it's unfortunate that it's posed like the scariest thing you both could imagine was to cross dress,' Jamie continued.

'As someone who is non-binary and does dress this way regularly, I think it's hurtful to a community who calls this everyday life. 

'I'm sorry to be a downer - just wanted to be open and honest so you know where I'm coming from.' 

Jamie has previously dressed up as Joe Exotic for Halloween and said that a bottle of P.Diddy baby oil was on their list of potential costume ideas for 2024. 

When contacted by Daily Mail, Evelyn maintained she doesn't see anything wrong or offensive about her and Duncan's costume. 

'I’m sorry, but your partner looking like you is scary!!!' she said. 

However, Duncan took a more diplomatic approach in his personal response to Jamie. 

'Hey Jamie, I really appreciate you reaching out. I've always respected your views and way of approaching them,' the ex-AFL player wrote. 

'Although a lot of Halloween outfits are scary or haunting, there are many that aren't and this is one of them.

'I do think we always need to be mindful of all genders and all people that live on this planet. 

'I would like to think that both Ev and I show through our actions that are extremely supportive and understanding of the wider community.' 

'I'd welcome any discussion if people think that I shouldn't be allowed to dress up as my partner or cross dress if I want to.' 

Jamie, who is known for their extravagant outfit choices and celebrity feuds, said the response was appreciated but that they were disappointed. 

'In my community we often experience a lot of hate just based on this decision [to cross dress or perform drag],' the stylist explained. 

'So for many of us (me included), it can be a hard pill to swallow.' 

Jamie copped fierce backlash for arriving to Australian Fashion Week in an elaborate gown, which was attended to by a handful of entourage members earlier this year. 

The stylist added that, 'There's a cultural appropriation element to all this'. 

That's why Jamie said non-binary Aussie muso G Flip and wife Chrishell Stause dressing up as one another for Halloween wasn't offensive, but this was.