Scandal in Canada over photos of Trudeau with painted face
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's campaign team was trying to contain a growing scandal on Thursday after the publication of a photo showing him with his face painted brown during a 2001 costume party with the theme "Arabian Nights" and other two similar incidents.
A month after the election in which he is seeking reelection, Trudeau, 47, pleaded with Canadians to forgive them.
"I should have thought about it then, but I didn't and I am deeply sorry," Trudeau said. "It was stupid."
Time magazine, which published the photo Wednesday, said it was taken from the yearbook at West Point Gray Academy, a private school in British Columbia where Trudeau taught before turning to politics. In the photo he is seen at 29 years old with a turban, a tunic and with dark makeup on his hands, face and neck.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, who faces a close contest with the prime minister in the October 21 election, reacted by saying that Trudeau "is not fit to rule this country."
The morning after the article was published, Trudeau gave no sign that he might resign, and no one from his Liberal Party has asked him to do so. Many liberals, some of them from an ethnic minority, joined him in support, a reflection of the great benevolence for his past advocacy of diversity and immigration.
Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, a liberal who is Sikh, said that what Trudeau did was wrong, but that the prime minister in the past has defended minorities. Trudeau appointed Sajjan, Canada's first Sikh defense chief, in 2015.
Greg Fergus, a liberal black member of Parliament, said there is a lot of confusion and pain among the black community, but noted that the prime minister has apologized.
"I think the true measure of man, and what we should be talking about, are the awesome things that he has done for diversity," said Fergus.
The photo was taken at the school's annual dinner, the theme of which that year was "One Thousand and One Nights," and he dressed up as the character of "Aladdin." He said it was not the first time he did it: he painted his face to perform a version of the "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" (Harry Belafonte's song also known as the "Banana Calypso") in a new talent show.
Global News also reported a third incident, broadcasting a short video of Trudeau with his face painted as he raised his hands in the air and stuck out his tongue. A spokeswoman for the Liberal Party said the video was from the early 1990s. Canadian television said it was not clear where the video was shot.
Trudeau has championed diversity, multiculturalism and immigration, and is admired by liberals around the world for his policies in the time of President Donald Trump, accepting more refugees from Canada than the United States. His government has also vigorously defended free trade and legalized cannabis.
