Blackface: costume or controversy?

In recent years, there have been many publicized photos of White people painting themselves to portray a Black person for Halloween.
Due to the prevalence of social media, these occurrences have finally reached the forefront of the public eye, causing many to question the fad.  In many instances, members of the Black community are highly offended, especially considering the history of White people painting themselves black.  It’s the resurfacing of blackface.  
Blackface is a theatrical style of makeup that was used religiously in the past.  Gaining popularity in the 1800s, the “art form” contributed heavily to physical stereotypes about Black people.
White performers would smear their faces with grease, paint or shoe polish to darken their skin; wear wooly wigs to mimic the texture of black hair; don ratty clothes to represent the socioeconomic status of blacks; and exaggerate the size and color of black lips using very pink or red materials on their mouth and the skin surrounding it.
By 1848, blackface minstrel shows were flourishing around the United States and even overseas until the Civil Rights Movement motioned for an end.  
Blackface shows and depictions made a mockery of Black people for over a century; so much so that it is considered a part of art history.  
However, for the cessation of blackface to be on the agenda of the Civil Rights Movement, it posed a real problem to our ancestors.  
So does it pose a problem for the modern generation?  Since this decade has begun, it seems there has been a controversial blackface photo that surfaces every Halloween.  
There has already been a photo of a white child dressed in black face and a Ray Rice jersey, dragging a black baby doll; but I don’t think there’s enough column space to address that issue.  Most notably, actress Julianne Hough who dressed in blackface last year to become Crazy Eyes, a black character on the Netflix hit, “Orange is The New Black”.  
Once the photo became viral, Hough released statements saying “It was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way” by wearing the costume.  However, the masses (Black and White) were floored.  
Not necessarily because they think she’s an advocate for stereotyping art forms, but because the level of ignorance is mind blowing.   
I’ve seen several versions of Lil Wayne over the years myself.  Not to mention the most stereotypical thing I’ve ever seen in my life, “the blackface gangster”; with draping cornrows, tattoos, gold teeth, pants hanging far below the beltline, hip hop clothing, and smudges of brown stuff on their face to seal the deal… apparently they’ve never seen Scarface.
So here’s my question, should we be offended by blackface Halloween costumes or the nature in which the person wore the costume?  I understand that White people may think the portrayal of a Black person is not understood unless their face is darkened, saying “I’m Black”.  But next time just let us use our imagination.  If I was dressing as Elton John or Sarah Palin or any other white figure, I would let the costume be explanatory, not paint my face another color.