Just when you thought we were officially done with scandals involving racism this week, another one rears its ugly head. And this time? It’s political! On Wednesday evening, Time released a photo of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing brownface makeup to an event in 2001. Trudeau, 29 at the time the photo was taken, was attending an “Arabian Nightsâ€â€“themed gala benefitting West Point Grey Academy, the private school at which he taught. The photo of Trudeau was published in the 2000-2001 edition of West Point Grey Academy’s yearbook.
A spokesperson for Canada’s Liberal Party confirmed that it was, in fact, Trudeau in the photo, saying, “He attended with friends and colleagues dressed as a character from Aladdin.†In the photo, Trudeau is smiling directly at the camera while decked out in brownface, robes, and a turban. No one else in the photo appears to have darkened their skin for the event.
Let this unfortunate incident serve as a salient reminder while you pick out your Halloween costume. Sigh, can you believe it’s only Wednesday?
Update: Justin Trudeau apologized on Wednesday night while onboard his campaign plane. He said the following:
“In 2001, when I was a teacher in Vancouver, I attended a gala. The theme was Arabian Nights. I dressed up in a costume and put makeup on. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have known better, but I didn’t and I’m really sorry.
I take responsibility for my decision to do that. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have known better. It was something that I didn’t think was racist at the time, but now I recognize it was something racist to do and I am deeply sorry.â€