Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized after a photo emerged of him in brownface makeup in 2001. Two images of separate incidents have since been released, coming the week after he launched his election campaign. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a liberal advocate of multiculturalism, wore brownface makeup at a costume party in 2001. Trudeau, who launched a campaign for reelection last week, immediately apologized for wearing the makeup.
“I should have known better then, but I didn’t and I did it and I’m deeply sorry,” Trudeau told reporters on his campaign plane, asking for forgiveness. He admitted it was a racist act although he didn’t realize it at the time. In the hours since the image emerged, the prime minister is facing two further allegations of wearing racist make-up. Canada’s Global News published a video from the 1990s which appears to show Trudeau in “blackface,” which the prime minister’s Liberal Party has confirmed is real.
The third image is of a teenage Trudeau performing in a school talent show. Series of setbacks Time magazine on Wednesday posted the first photo, which it said showed Trudeau at an “Arabian Nights” dinner gala in 2001 wearing a turban and robe with his face, neck, and hands covered in dark makeup. The picture appeared in the yearbook of West Point Grey Academy, a private school where Trudeau taught at the time. He was then 29. Release of the photo adds to the Liberal leader’s woes as polls show he faces a stiff challenge from Conservative leader Andrew Scheer in a federal election set for October.
Trudeau was already facing public scrutiny over an ethics scandal related to accusations he interfered in a bribery case against engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Trudeau has said he was protecting jobs. A darling of liberals around the world for his progressive policies in the era of US President Donald Trump, half of Trudeau’s cabinet is female and at least six members have Asian or African heritage. Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW’s editors send out a selection of the day’s hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.
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