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ASU Asks Fans Not To Paint Their Faces During 'Blackout' Game

ASU fans
(Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)
Fans at ASU.

As the football team prepares for its annual “blackout” game, Arizona State University is asking fans to refrain from the tradition of painting their faces.

On its website, the school asks its fans to show their Sun Devil pride in other ways, saying “we discourage the use of face paint at any event, whether the theme is black, maroon, gold or white.”

Last year, the annual blackout game sparked criticism after black students complained the face paint was offensive because it resembled blackface.

ASU isn’t banning face paint all together, only asking fans to avoid using it.

Phil Latzman is an award-winning digital journalist and broadcast professional with over 25 years of experience covering news and sports on a multitude of platforms.