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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Tim Baker

Justin Trudeau ‘brownface’: Pressure increases on Canadian PM as new footage emerges

'I'm deeply sorry': Justin Trudeau makes a statement after a photo of him wearing 'brownface' emerged (Picture: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Justin Trudeau is coming under increasing pressure amid the "brownface" scandal after new footage emerged.

The prime minister of Canada, who is facing an election next month, today faced fierce backlash after a photo emerged of him wearing the make-up at a private school gala in 2001.

And Canadian television channel Global News has now broadcast footage of Mr Trudeau in the "racist make-up" at another event.

A spokesman for the ruling Liberal party said the video was from the early 1990s.

Mr Trudeau in blackface (TIME/West Point Gray Academy)

On Wednesday, Time magazine had published a photo of Mr Trudeau in brownface and wearing a turban.

The article said the picture was from West Point Grey Academy, a private school where the Prime Minister taught before becoming a politician.

It claimed the image was taken in 2001 when Mr Trudeau was 29.

Mr Trudeau - when confronted with the image - said he had been dressed up as a character from Aladdin for an Arabian Nights themed school dinner.

He said: “I'm p***** off at myself. I'm disappointed in myself.”

But Mr Turdeau went on to say that it was not the only time he had darkened his face.

He claimed to have done a similar thing when he performed Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" at a talent show.

He said: “I should have known better then, but I didn't, and I am deeply sorry for it.

"I'm going to ask Canadians to forgive me for what I did. I shouldn't have done that. I take responsibility for it. It was a dumb thing to do."

Canada is due to go to the polls on October 21 to elect its new leader.

Mr Trudeau’s opposite number, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, said: “What Canadians saw this evening was someone with a complete lack of judgment and integrity and someone who is not fit to govern this country."

And New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh, who is a Sikh, said: “It is insulting. Any time we hear examples of brownface or blackface it's making a mockery of someone for what they live, for what their lived experiences are.

“I think he has to answer for it.”

Mr Trudeau, 47, has been the Prime Minister of Canada since 2015.

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