Trudeau apologises after 'brownface' yearbook photo surfaces

Thursday, 19 September 2019 09:11

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologised for wearing brown face make-up to a costume party in 2001.

Time magazine has published the image, obtained from a private school yearbook, less than five weeks before he faces a tough election.

"I should have known better then, but I didn't and I did it and I'm deeply sorry," Trudeau told reporters on his campaign plane in Halifax.

The picture shows a 29-year-old Trudeau wearing a turban and a white robe, with his face covered in dark makeup.

"I dressed up in an Aladdin costume and put make-up on. I shouldn't have done it."

More from International

Saudi Arabia trust with Iran hard to 're-establish', foreign minister says

Saudi Arabia reserves the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran has been shattered, the Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Fahran said early on Thursday, after Riyadh was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles.
QatarEnergy says several LNG facilities targeted by missiles, fires contained

QatarEnergy announced that several liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City were subjected to missile attacks early Thursday morning, causing fires and further serious damage, in addition to the previous attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City on Wednesday, which severely damaged a gas-to-liquids conversion plant.
Kuwait foils terror plot targeting vital facilities

Kuwait's Ministry of Interior says the State Security Service has foiled a terrorist plot targeting key installations in the country.
Qatar declares Iranian attachés 'persona non grata'

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared Iran’s military and security attachés in Doha persona non grata, ordering them, along with their staff, to leave the country within 24 hours.
Debris from intercepted missile injures four in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defence says emergency teams responded on Wednesday to falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile over a residential area in Riyadh.