Albertans react to brownface photo of Justin Trudeau
Posted Sep 19, 2019 10:05:30 AM.
Last Updated Sep 19, 2019 11:43:54 AM.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A photo of Justin Trudeau wearing brownface is getting a mixed reaction from Alberta voters.
On Wednesday, TIME Magazine published a photo showing Liberal leader Justin Trudeau dressed in an Aladdin costume-wearing brownface makeup.
READ MORE: Trudeau apologizes for ‘racist’ brownface yearbook photo
Trudeau apologized for the photo later that evening saying, “I take responsibility for my decision to do that; I shouldn’t have done it, I should have known better.”
The apology is hard to accept for some in Calgary including City Councillor Jyoti Gondek. She said the Liberals have been trying to convince people of colour that it represents diversity, and this is definitely a blow to that.
“It struck me–how dumb he can be, and his judgment is absolutely brutal.”
2/The Liberal Party has spent decades trying to convince people of colour that it represents diversity, that they represent immigration-friendly policies. Nonsense. If this latest debacle doesn’t highlight the truth, you’ve got your head in the sand.
— Jyoti Gondek (@JyotiGondek) September 19, 2019
Others in Calgary had a similar reaction to Trudeau wearing brownface.
“I have yet to meet a politician who doesn’t have a skeleton in the closet or isn’t on some level a complete idiot,” said one woman. “You’d think he would learn that you shouldn’t be doing that.”
CityNews also spoke to some in Edmonton about the photo.
“It seems a little insensitive to me,” said one man. “Personally, I don’t really care. He wasn’t the prime minister when he was doing that. I don’t necessarily think that it means he is a racist,” said another.
While many are calling the photo offensive, those we spoke to said it wouldn’t change how they vote on Oct. 21.
-with files from CityNews