Justin Trudeau pushed aside Friday global mockery of his decisions years ago to dress in blackface, saying heB次元官网网址檚 focused on apologizing to Canadians.
But images of the three times he chose to put on black- or brownface for costume events continued to flash around the world, reaching even the White House.
U.S. President Donald TrumpB次元官网网址檚 reaction summed up how the incidents have surprised people accustomed to seeing Trudeau as a champion of inclusivity and diversity, raising questions about whether that brand is forever tarnished.
B次元官网网址淚 was hoping I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be asked that question. B次元官网网址� Justin. IB次元官网网址檓 surprised and I was more surprised when I saw the number of times and IB次元官网网址檝e always had a good relationship with Justin. I just donB次元官网网址檛 know what to tell you. I was surprised by it, actually,B次元官网网址� Trump said.
Trudeau apologized profusely for the third day in a row for the incidents B次元官网网址� one from his teens, one from his time as a whitewater rafting guide in his 20s, and one when he was a teacher at a Vancouver private school. He said they were mistakes, and he did not understand at the time how racist it is to wear black- or brownface.
Former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne, a Liberal, said sheB次元官网网址檚 worried that the apology will fall on deaf ears around the world.
B次元官网网址淧eople in other countries donB次元官网网址檛 have the benefit or the access or the interest in, quite frankly, the day-to-day machinations of Canadian politics so they donB次元官网网址檛 know him as well as we do,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淪o they kind of had him on this pedestal, which was unrealistic and ridiculous, and now heB次元官网网址檚 fallen off that pedestal and so thereB次元官网网址檚 almost even more of an oversimplification on the international stage: He was perfect and now heB次元官网网址檚 the devil.B次元官网网址�
Since the first photo emerged Wednesday night, Trudeau has been calling members of his cabinet, candidates and community leaders to try to make amends. In turn, all day Thursday, many of them were speaking out publicly, if a tad cautiously, in support of their leader.
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On Friday, the day after Trudeau was the butt of late-night TV jokes in the U.S. and shocked headlines around the world, Chrystia Freeland took a turn.
As TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 foreign affairs minister, she has had the ears of many influential leaders and their aides around the globe.
Freeland said she was troubled and disappointed by the images, calling racism and intolerance unacceptable. But she said she accepts his apology and commitment to do better.
B次元官网网址淭he prime minister continues to have my full and unwavering support,B次元官网网址� she said in the statement posted to Twitter.
The incidents made the front pages of news websites around the globe.
Trudeau attracted scorn as well from prominent civil-rights advocates in the U.S., a country that has grappled with its own cases of prominent politicians having been found to have, or admitting to have, worn blackface.
The Canadian Press
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