Justin Trudeau is apologizing and acknowledging his decision to dress up as Aladdin and wear brownface makeup at a party in 2001 was racist.
Trudeau spoke to reporters last night after TIME Magazine published a photo from a gala the Liberal leader acknowledged was an Arabian Nights theme party he attended while he was a teacher at a private school in Vancouver.
The photograph shows Trudeau, then 29, alongside four women in an all-white Aladdin costume with a turban on his head and makeup on his face and hands to darken his skin colour.
“I shouldn't have done that. I should have known better but I didn't,” Trudeau said. “And I'm really sorry.”
Asked if the photo was racist in his opinion, Trudeau said yes.
“I didn't consider it a racist action at the time. But, now we know better,” he responded. “This was something that was unacceptable. And, yes, racist.”
Trudeau faced several questions about whether or not he plans to resign and said he is going to be asking Canadians to forgive him for what he did.
“I take responsibility for it. It was a dumb thing to do,” he told reporters. “I'm disappointed in myself. I'm pissed off at myself for having done it. I wish I hadn't done it, but I did it.”
“And I apologize for it.”
Trudeau also admitted to another instance where he dressed up for a talent show in high school with “makeup on” and sang the song “Day O”
The Conservatives, New Democrats and Greens quickly denounced the Prime Minister for his past actions.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said they prove Trudeau is not fit to govern the country.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called the Prime Minister's behaviour troubling and insulting, and said it “made a mockery of someone for what their lived experiences are.”
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May sent out a tweet saying she is deeply shocked and saddened by the racism shown in the photograph.