Posted on September 19, 2019

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Pictured Wearing ‘Brownface’ at 2001 Party

Ben Feuerherd, New York Post, September 18, 2019

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wore “brownface” makeup and a turban to a costume party while teaching at a private school in 2001, according to a photo obtained by Time Magazine.

Trudeau, who was 29-years-old at the time, wore the skin-darkening makeup to an “Arabian Nights” gala hosted by the West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver, according to the Time report.

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A rep for Trudeau’s re-election campaign confirmed to the New York Times that the photo was of him.

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The prime minister apologized Wednesday night, saying: “It was a dumb thing to do. I’m disappointed in myself. I’m pissed off at myself.”

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After the photo was published Wednesday night, Trudeau was attacked by his Conservative Party rival — but also by Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the New Democratic Party.

“It’s insulting,” Singh, who is a Sikh, told reporters Wednesday evening.

“I think he needs to answer for it. I think he’s got to answer the question why he did that,” Singh added.

The leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Andrew Scheer, pounced on the prime minister.

“Wearing brownface is an act of open mockery and racism. It was just as racist in 2001 as in 2019,” Scheer said in a video message Wednesday.

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