Watch: Trudeau Apologizes for “Brownface” Photo, Singh Makes Moving Statement

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under severe fire tonight as a photo of him appearing in brownface makeup has gone viral on the internet, causing shock and outrage in Canada and around the world.

Time magazine was first to publish the offensive photo, which was taken in the spring of 2001 while Trudeau was teaching at West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver. Trudeau, then 29, was pictured in a high-school performance of Arabian Nights dressed as Aladdin, wearing “a turban and robes with his face, neck and hands completely darkened.”

Trudeau later admitted that he also took part in a talent show wearing black makeup while at high-school. A third video of him appearing in blackface has also surfaced.

Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane, a haggard- looking Trudeau issued an apology. “I shouldn’t have done it … I’m deeply disappointed … I should have known better.” He also added, “I didn’t consider it a racist action at the time.”

Trudeau addressed the photos and footage again at an event in Winnipeg, expressing deep regret and admitting he should have known better.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said the photo was “insulting” and that Trudeau  “needs to answer for it.” He also added that “the kids that see this image, the people that see this image, are going to think about all the times in their life that they were made fun of, that they were hurt, that they were hit, that they were insulted, that they were made to feel less because of who they are and I want to talk to those people right now.”

Here is a video of an emotional Singh commenting on Trudeau’s picture.

In a statement made in Sherbrooke, Que., Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said he was “extremely shocked and disappointed” when he heard the news of the racist photo. Adding that the Prime Minister is “not fit to govern this country.”

Green Party leader Elizabeth May tweeted that she was ” deeply shocked by the racism shown in the photograph.”

Despite a frenzy of criticism on social media calling for his resignation, Trudeau has, so far, made no mention of stepping down.

Related

Charisma on the Campaign Trail: We Rate the Candidates

Track all the late-breaking election news

How Each Party Plans to Woo the Key Older Vote