Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed regret Wednesday for wearing brownface makeup at a party 18 years ago. The photograph was published by Time magazine one week into a federal election campaign.
The black-and-white photograph shows Trudeau, then 29, wearing a turban and robes with his face, neck and hands darkened at the gala in 2001. According to Time magazine, the picture appears in the 2000-2001 yearbook of West Point Grey Academy, a private school where Trudeau taught at the time. Trudeau confirmed it was him in the photograph at the school’s yearly dinner which had a costume theme of ‘Arabian Nights.’
Trudeau at a televised news conference on his said:
I have worked all my life to try to create opportunities for people, fight against racism and intolerance. I can say I made a mistake when I was younger and I wish I hadn’t. I wish I had known better then, but I didn’t and I’m deeply sorry for it. Now I recognize it was something racist to do.
Canadian Prime Minister also admitted to wearing dark makeup singing Harry Belafonte’s 1950s hit Day O (Banana Boat Song) at a separate high school talent contest.
(For) communities and people who live with intersectionalities and face discrimination, it is a significant thing that is very hurtful.
Jagmeet Singh, the Indian origin leader of the third-place New Democratic Party, reacted by calling the Trudeau’s behavior troubling and insulting. He said anytime we hear examples of brown face or blackface, it’s making a mockery of someone for what they live and what their lived experiences are.
What does that say about what he thinks about people who, because of who they are, because of the color of their skin, face challenges and barriers and obstacles in their life? Racism is real.
Prime Minister’s most ardent critic, Scheer, pounding him on ethics lapses, said he was shocked and disappointed over Trudeau’s lack of judgement and integrity in this matter and said he was not fit to govern this country.
