will.i.am in Blackface: Harmless or Offensive?

When does a meat dress become the second strangest outfit worn to an awards ceremony?

When a hip hop artist attends the event in blackface.

That's what will.i.am chose to do for some reason last night, creating a backlash on Twitter. Citing the get-up's history of promoting racial stereotypes against African-Americas, the musician was labeled a "racist" by one user, while another said will.i.am "just sent us back 1,000 yrs."

At these jabs, the artist Tweeted in response:

“1st. just because I where all black including head mask as expression and emphasize my outfit, it shouldn’t be looked at as racial... Let go of the past. there are far more important things 2 bark about. (Jobs, health, education) not a black man wearing all black everything... Are you guys serious? my outfit set “black people back 100 yrs” choose your twits wisely. no education sets people back, no jobs, bad health.”

What do you think of will.i.am's costume? It is...