Justin Trudeau and his campaign was dealt a huge blow Wednesday night after photographs of Trudeau in brownface were uncovered.
The incident was first reported by TIME, which obtained the photograph from Michael Adamson, a Vancouver businessman from the same West Point Grey Academy community Trudeau was a part of when he was teaching in Vancouver.
Politicians, pundits, and Trudeau himself scrambled to respond to the incident. Here’s what they had to say.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
“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 completely sorry,” said @JustinTrudeau. “I have made a number of calls to friends and colleagues tonight and I will have many more calls to make” #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/myhh2ehRh5
— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) September 19, 2019
Yes, he said this. pic.twitter.com/ZuadIWCBuv
— Jonathan Goldsbie (@goldsbie) September 19, 2019
Jagmeet Singh, NDP Leader
Everyone should watch this response from Jagmeet Singh. I don't think you can say it better than this pic.twitter.com/FCCXVEGgfD
— Robyn Urback (@RobynUrback) September 19, 2019
Tonight is not about the Prime Minister.
It's about every young person mocked for the colour of their skin.
The child who had their turban ripped off their head.
And those reliving intense feelings of pain & hurt from past experiences of racism.
To you, I say you are loved.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) September 19, 2019
Andrew Scheer, Conservative Party Leader
My response to the Time Magazine story about Justin Trudeau: pic.twitter.com/nIfukTRiev
— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) September 19, 2019
Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader
I am deeply shocked by the racism shown in the photograph of Justin Trudeau. He must apologize for the harm done and commit to learning and appreciating the requirement to model social justice leadership at all levels of government. In this matter he has failed.
— Elizabeth May (@ElizabethMay) September 19, 2019
The Internet
https://twitter.com/R14ScoRae/status/1174475387927171072?s=20
A Canadian Heritage Moment#JustinTrudeau #Brownface #elxn43 pic.twitter.com/LrcIvmrNjx
— Kevin Michael Grace🏴🇮🇪⚜🇳🇴 (@KMGVictoria) September 19, 2019
Happier days. #BrownfaceTrudeau #BlackfaceTrudeau #SherlockHolmes pic.twitter.com/8aXEKCCexh
— Mark Hanson stands with Ukraine 💙 💛 (@MHanson62) September 19, 2019
Overnight, a second photo of Trudeau in brownface, from the same night, was uncovered.
There is a second photo of Justin Trudeau in brownface, from the same 2001 incident. This is from the school’s newsletter (he was a teacher at the time) https://t.co/Thg7mzVcJe pic.twitter.com/YZMda2hpkU
— Katie Simpson (@Katie___Simpson) September 19, 2019
And then, a third. Furthermore, this incident, a video, showed Trudeau in blackface.
Exclusive: Video shows Trudeau in blackface in 3rd instance of racist makeup https://t.co/NFeE8gNFFZ
— National Newswatch (@natnewswatch) September 19, 2019
The Internet
https://twitter.com/Corinthian_Hill/status/1174717724406108160?s=20
Several years ago whilst abroad, I dressed up like 2001 Justin Trudeau, I now apologise #blackface pic.twitter.com/mU8Ol3NXz8
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) September 19, 2019
As of Thursday morning, #BrownFaceTrudeau, #BlackFaceTrudeau, and #TrudeauMustGo, or some version of all three, were all trending on Twitter.
Stay tuned to 604 Now News.
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