Justin Trudeau insists he’s not the man today who he was years ago, when photos and videos were taken of him in racist costumes.
The Liberal leader acknowledges, however, that he had a “massive blind spot” about how wearing blackface could be so hurtful.
Two photos and a video of a younger Trudeau dressed up, with his face painted black or brown, twice for performances and once in an unclear context, have surfaced in the last 24 hours.
Trudeau says he was aware of two of them, and he’s never spoken about them because he was embarrassed.
Delivering statement on blackface photos, Justin Trudeau addresses his remarks to racialized Canadians: "I what I did hurt them, hurt people who shouldn't have to face intolerance & discrimination because of their identity. This is something that I deeply, deeply regret" #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/a6GLb2zw1b
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) September 19, 2019
He repeated his apology to Canadians for his past behaviour Thursday afternoon, after first issuing one late last night after the first photo was published.
He says he’s spent his political career trying to counter intolerance and racism and hopes that people he’s offended still can see him as an ally in that fight.
READ MORE FROM BLACK PRESS MEDIA:
- Trudeau’s racist photos worry B.C. First Nation chief
- Liberal candidate Stephen Fuhr campaign signs vandalized with blackface
- ‘I felt betrayed’: North-Okanagan Shuswap candidate responds to Trudeau brownface photo
- Photos surface of Conservative candidate at B.C. event with people in blackface
Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press
