NEW YORK — Athletes, television personalities and Hollywood entertainers marked Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 31, by debuting an assortment of intricate transformations, nostalgic musical tributes and pop culture throwbacks.
From private team gatherings to television studio sets, stars leaned into recognizable characters from television, film and celebrity headlines, according to reports from ABC News, The Big Lead and NYLON.
Athletes embrace elaborate transformations
Several professional athletes went beyond standard party wear by investing in complex special effects. New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and his wife, Jordyn Woods, stepped out at a SoHo restaurant on Prince Street in New York dressed as the Night King and a White Walker from “Game of Thrones,” The Big Lead reported. Costume designer Sabrina Spanta and special-effects makeup artist Roger Baena crafted the transformation using heavy prosthetics, frostbite details and piercing blue eyes.
In California, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and his wife, Jenna, hosted a bye-week Halloween gathering for teammates while dressed as Sulley and Mike Wazowski from Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.” Several teammates joined the themed festivities, according to videos shared on TikTok by Tatyanah Bass, girlfriend of tight end Brayden Willis. Willis and Bass dressed as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy from the animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Defensive end Nick Bosa and girlfriend Ella Ailiff dressed as The Crimson Chin and Cleft the Boy Chin Wonder from “The Fairly OddParents,” while wide receiver Ricky Pearsall attended as Austin Powers. Cornerback Nate Hobbs chose an unusual real-life subject, wearing a jersey representing Daejon Love, a man accused of online impersonation and fraud.
Other sports figures chose famous pop music references and fellow celebrity couples. Retired tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki and former NBA player David Lee dressed as singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, with Wozniacki wearing a blonde wig and holding a microphone while Lee donned a football uniform. Former tennis pro Genie Bouchard paid homage to Britney Spears by re-creating the singer’s 2001 MTV Video Music Awards outfit, complete with a replica python draped across her shoulders, The Big Lead reported.
Meanwhile, Detroit Lions players showcased cinematic and musical themes at their team party. Quarterback Jared Goff and his wife, Christen, dressed as Bobby Boucher and Vicki Vallencourt from the 1998 sports comedy “The Waterboy.” Running back Jahmyr Gibbs channeled Michael Jackson with a sparkling blue jacket, curly wig and sunglasses, while wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown opted for a relaxed 1990s rapper outfit complete with a red bandana and cap.
Morning shows and Hollywood icons celebrate
Television studios also served as major stages for holiday costuming. On ABC’s “Live with Kelly and Mark,” co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos debuted several looks during their holiday broadcast, including costumes inspired by “Toy Story,” “Spider-Man” and Lady Gaga, ABC News reported. Television personality Lisa Rinna dressed as reality star Kylie Jenner alongside the show’s executive producer, Michael Gelman, who appeared as actor Timothee Chalamet.
Social media and party circuits saw additional creative homages. Model Ashley Graham shared a video dressed as Ariel from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” lip-syncing to the song “Part of Your World.” Palmer and son Leo honored music royalty by dressing as Janet and Michael Jackson from their futuristic “Scream” music video, according to ABC News. Paris Hilton and her family shared two separate group themes, channeling both “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Addams Family.” Model Gabbriette took inspiration from classic cinema by dressing as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” NYLON reported.
The elaborate efforts follow a long tradition of high-profile disguise, often exemplified by model Heidi Klum, whose past prosthetics have included a scaled Medusa look alongside husband Tom Kaulitz in 2025 and extraterrestrials from “E.T.” in 2024, Fox News reported. Entertainment outlets noted that additional celebrity reveals are expected as Halloween festivities continue through the weekend.
