Rose Bay man accused of ‘cultural appropriation’ after going to Halloween party dressed as a resident of Newtown

HIPSTER HIJACK: An eastern suburbs man is ruffling feathers in the inner west tonight, after going to a Halloween party dressed as a Newtown resident.

Typically James Mathers-Reid hangs out at the Golden Sheaf, wearing polo shirts with popped collars and chinos with R.M Williams.

But tonight the former Cranbrook student wore fake tattoos and piercings, coloured hair and an all black ensemble with his t-shirt tucked in.

The costume was well received by people at the party which was held in Rose Bay.

But the controversy began when photos were posted online.

“This costume is a serious case of cultural appropriation,” one Newtown man told DBT.

“It’s reduced our entire community to a cliche.”

“Newtown is not a costume, it’s a way of life.”

The incident sparked discussions about the complexities of respecting other people’s identity, and how suburbs only a few kilometres apart can have such different cultures.

James Mathers-Reid was unavailable for comment.

But he released a statement:

“I’m sorry to anyone I may have offended,” he wrote.

“The truth is I’ve never even been west of Edgecliff.”