Canadian Politicians Jagmeet Singh, Andrew Scheer Respond to Trudeau's 'Brownface' Photo

Justin Trudeau, who has championed minority rights since becoming Canadian Prime Minister, was forced to apologize for wearing “brownface” makeup at an “Arabian Nights” theme party in 2001, saying it was racist and a dumb thing to do.

“I deeply regret that I did that,” a shaken Trudeau told reporters on his election campaign plane late Wednesday. “I should have known better but I didn’t.”

The explosive photo of Trudeau, published by Time Magazine Wednesday, appeared in the yearbook of West Point Grey Academy, the private school where Trudeau taught at the time. The photograph shows Trudeau wearing a white turban, with his face and hands darkened. Trudeau, then 29, poses with four women, his brown arms draped over one of them.

The publication of the picture is a potentially crippling blow to Trudeau, coming only weeks before an Oct. 21 federal election. The Canadian leader, who has already seen his support wane over the past year amid an ethics scandal involving SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., has made diversity a central tenet of his governing principles.

“I’m pissed off at myself,” said Trudeau, who added he learned earlier Wednesday that the 18-year-old photo was going to be published. “I am asking Canadians to forgive me for what I did.”
Trudeau, 47, says he didn’t think at the time that dressing up as a dark-skinned “Aladdin” character for the gala was racist, but he realizes now that it was. “It was a dumb thing to do,” he said.
Trudeau has been a vocal supporter of women and minority rights since he was first elected in 2015. He was the first Canadian prime minister to appoint a gender balanced cabinet, and has boosted immigration levels to the highest since the First World War.

"Seeing those images is going to be hard for a lot of people, it's going to bring a lot of pain," said New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh.

"Wearing brownface is an act of open mockery and racism," said Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer, adding that it shows Trudeau is unfit to govern the country.

TICTOC ON SOCIAL:

TicToc by Bloomberg is global news for the life you lead. We are a 24/7 news network that covers breaking news, politics, technology, business and entertainment stories from around the globe, supported by a network of Bloomberg’s 2,700 journalists across 120 countries.

[AlwaysHalloween]

Why does he have his hand on that 15 year old girl's body like that? -- that's super disturbing also

[nickrosas]

this is hilarious. is the first video a parody? its a picture of a guy at a party in a costume - yes, it involved him darkening his skin. not exactly a graphic war photograph. is someone suffering in silence over a costume someone once wore?


strange times we live in

[bobpowers]

“Reach out to your loved ones suffering in silence right now”

Huh? What on earth are you talking about? You want votes this is such an over dramatic political stunt. I

[mattball]

Canada wants the Peoples party of Canada --I'm joining the trend of Canadians from ALL Parties, ALL provinces, ALL Ages to support the PPC

[JTuaim]

I'm shocked this guy just stepped off of a jet to deliver this nonsensical speech. He just couldn't wait to get to a tv station.

[JTuaim]

Oh boy, I was so insulted when Michael Jackson turned white. I'm still crying over that. please, has anyone ever seen Startrek? Imagine how all of those aliens feel about humans impersonating them. Al Jolson was a great singer and many black people loved his voice. It was theater and everyone knew that. Imitation is the best compliment. I doubt Jolson was trying to insult anyone. And neither was Mr. Trudau. Let's remember that Canada takes in more immigrants then does the US. By the way, I'm a dyed in the wool racist. I love the human race. No matter the color or lack of color. Black and white are not colors in my rainbow. I love my black friends, my yellow friends, red, brown and even my pink friends. I even have white friends, they have no pigment and can't go into the sunlight. I love all of the FAMILIES of the human race. If someone is a bigot; they've insulted someone in my race. Let's clean up our terminology. And don't carry guns unless you're Superman or the Hulk. Hype sucks and it's not newsworthy. It's not a machine gun, a canon doesn't spit out machines. It's a repeating rifle.

[IScreenshotNFTs]

Andrew scheer needs to let out that fart.

[chrlie]

Don’t get me wrong I’m not a Trudeau fan, I hate him as much as the next man but this does not make him racist and I will not hold this against him instead I will focus on his awful policies and reckless diversity fetish

[tubedude]

Hey Trudeau ! I did not go and listen to one of your campaign speeches dressed in a frog suit.

[oldguysrock]

How come nobody accused Michael JACKSON of “white face?”

[the.koochmeister]

He was dressed as Aladdin in 2001, u know, where things werent that big of a deal amd not everything was racist

[furankuchan]

Its a costume party...a themed costume party, for fuck sake relax.

[videorate]

Help me in my Fastfood burger Workplace Jagmeet! Worker Rights man!

[karenbcz]

Hello, Mr. Trudeau? Are you aware that YOUR version of "brownface" IS BLACKFACE!

[CMVANBEEK]

Go away Singh and Scheer with your pathetic naive and ignorant state of mind ! Act Canadian we are the best country for all skin types and we need Trudeau to be our Prime Minister with brown/black/white/yellow or red face ❤ Trudeau 2019 will have my vote !!! ❤