Attention all ASU fans — please refrain from being accidentally racist this weekend.
Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Athletics posted a message Monday asking fans not to paint their faces at any sporting event, a notable request ahead of ASU Football’s annual “blackout” game this weekend.
ASU fans wear all black during the annual blackout game as a way to show team spirit for the players when they wear their all-black uniforms. This year’s is against University of Colorado Boulder this Saturday, and they’re promoting #BlackOutBuffs.
College officials are hoping to avoid the uncomfortable situation that arose after last year’s game.
Last year, the game sparked controversy when a few fans wore black face paint to the game, which some said too closely echoed blackface, a form of theatrical makeup widely regarded as racist.
During the backlash in the weeks after that game, the African-American student coalition at ASU and other leaders called for a ban on all face paint. In the end, ASU asked fans not to paint their faces for any games but did not ban its use.
I’m sure there will be one or two or a hundred fans who don’t listen and I’m sure we’ll see them on this website come Sunday.
[via USA Today]