Cruise line apologizes after crew costumes were 'misconstrued' as KKK hoods

P&O Cruises Australia apologized after costumes worn by crew members were "misconstrued" as similar to Ku Klux Klan hoods.

The employees were dressed as snow cones for a family Christmas event during a sailing last month, according to a spokesperson for the cruise line. “P&O Cruises Australia acknowledges an incident of inappropriate dress onboard Pacific Explorer has caused distress and wish to be clear this was not the intention of crew,” the spokesperson told Paste BN in an emailed statement.

The Christmas cruise from Melbourne to Tasmania departed on Dec. 19.

Video clips published by 7NEWS Australia this week show a group of crew walking on an outside deck wearing all-white outfits with pointed hoods covering their faces, bearing similarities to those worn by members of the KKK. They were following another person dressed as Santa Claus. Footage of the incident was shared on Facebook by a guest, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The KKK is "the oldest and most infamous of American hate groups” and has targeted mainly Black Americans along with Jewish people and others, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“They were only in public view for a short time before management acted quickly and had them remove the costumes,” the P&O Cruises Australia spokesperson added. “The crew members were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause. We sincerely apologise for any offence this caused passengers and the broader community.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.