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

COSTUME CONTROVERSY: An eastern suburbs man has ruffled feathers in the inner west, 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 on Saturday night the former Cranbrook student grew a beard and wore a pork pie hat, glasses and a flowing maroon scarf.

The costume was well received by people at the party which was held in Double 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 offensive and it trivialises our community.”

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.”