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Nurse loses job over Beyoncé Halloween costume

A nurse has lost her job after dressing up as Beyoncé for Halloween, after a controversial photo of her outfit went viral.

Shelbi Elliott-Heenan was fired from her job as a nurse in Missouri, US, after she dressed in black face as African American pop star, Beyoncé on Halloween night.

The wife and mother shared a picture of herself on Facebook posing in the costume alongside a man, also in blackface, who’s dressed as the singer’s husband, Jay-Z.

Initially unidentified, it is now believed the man is Ms Elliott-Heenan’s husband, Jasmond Heenan, who reportedly works for Costco Wholesale.

The viral photograph shows Ms Elliott-Heenan grinning proudly with her arm draped around her partner’s shoulder.

Shelbi Elliott-Heenan dressed as Beyonce, using blackface for her Halloween costume
Shelbi Elliott-Heenan dressed as Beyonce, using blackface. Source: WLWT 5/Twitter/Andrea Tudhope

The nurse’s Facebook profile has been deactivated since the scandal broke, and her husband doesn’t seem to have a social media presence either.

Saint Luke’s Health System, the hospital where Elliott-Heenan was employed at the time of the incident, condemned the costume and gave the nurse a pink slip.

“While it is against Saint Luke’s policy to comment on specific personnel matters, we can confirm that this individual is no longer a Saint Luke’s employee,” the hospital said in a statement on Monday.

“Saint Luke’s is deeply committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion.

Social media users were divided by the contentious outfit.

“Here we go again! Are people really that stupid, or they just don’t care!!!???” one Facebook user said.

The nurse has been fired from her job after dressing as Beyonce for her Halloween costume
The nurse has been fired from her job after dressing as Beyonce. Source: WLWT 5/Twitter/Andrea Tudhope

“It’s offensive. It’s not funny. And that wig is all wrong,” another wrote.

But some jumped to the woman’s defence.

“This is ridiculous it’s only a costume and if you get offended, you have serious issues!” one user wrote.

Yahoo Lifestyle was not able to locate Ms Elliott-Heenan for comment but has reached out to both Mr Heenan and Costco Wholesale about the incident.