Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Under Fire After 2001 Picture of Him Wearing Brownface Surfaces
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wore brownface makeup to an “Arabian Nights”-themed gala at the Vancouver private school where he taught in 2001, according to a photo obtained by TIME.
The picture, found in West Point Grey Academy’s yearbook, shows Trudeau with his face, neck and hands darkened—along with him wearing a turban and robes. While he was not the only one pictured in costume at the gala, he appeared to be the only one pictured in brownface.
The photo, which surfaced as Trudeau is ramping up his re-election campaign, sparked an outpouring of criticism on Twitter, where many accused the Canadian prime minister of racism.