Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing backlash for wearing costumes that included black and brownface on at least three separate occasions.
Trudeau is now apologizing as he continues to campaign for reelection as Prime Minister, for which Canadians will vote at the end of October.
A 29-year-old Trudeau wore brownface at an "Arabian Nights" themed party while teaching at a prestigious Canadian school.
When asked by reporters if he'd donned racist makeup at any other point in his life, Trudeau admitted he'd dressed in blackface in high school while singing civil rights leader Harry Belafonte's "Day-O."
A photo from that instance soon surfaced as well.
And if that wasn't enough, an apparent third instance of Trudeau wearing racist makeup surfaced hours after that.
The racist behavior is at odds with causes Trudeau has been revered for by progressives in Canada and its neighbor, the United States.
Now, he's apologizing, telling reporters:
"This is something I shouldn't have done many years ago. 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."
Reporters pressed him for elaboration.
The leader of Canada's New Democratic Party and one of Trudeau's opponents in the Prime Minister race, Jagmeet Singh, condemned the pictures of Trudeau and spoke of the racism he'd faced in his own life.
Watch below.
Trudeau may have apologized, but it's unclear if his chance for reelection is tarnished beyond repair.
Canadians remain divided on whether or not an apology could ever be enough.
Canada will speak for itself in the election for Prime Minister on October 21.
Many people are unaware that Canada also interred Japanese Canadians during WWII. The book Righting Canada's Wrongs: Japanese Canadian Internment in the Second World War is available here.
*****
Listen to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram