Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was unwilling to definitively say whether he only wore blackface three times before becoming a politician.
After it was reported Wednesday that Trudeau had worn brownface at an Arabian Nights-themed gala in 2001 at a school where he was a teacher, two more instances of him wearing blackface were discovered.
“Have you since been made aware or remembered of other instances, and if so, how many?” a reporter asked on Thursday.
“I think it is obvious that this is something that was deeply regrettable. I am wary of being definitive about this because the recent pictures that came out I had not remembered. And I think the question is, ‘How can you not remember that?’ The fact is I didn’t understand how hurtful this is to people who live with discrimination every single day,” Trudeau answered.
Trudeau has repeatedly apologized for wearing blackface, telling reporters on the night the news broke, “It was a dumb thing to do. I’m disappointed in myself. I’m pissed off at myself for having done it.”
“I take responsibility for my decision to do that. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have known better. 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’m deeply sorry,” he added.
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