Justin Trudeau pushed aside Friday global mockery of his decisions years ago to dress in blackface, saying hesa国际传媒檚 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 Trumpsa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淚 was hoping I wouldnsa国际传媒檛 be asked that question. sa国际传媒� Justin. Isa国际传媒檓 surprised and I was more surprised when I saw the number of times and Isa国际传媒檝e always had a good relationship with Justin. I just donsa国际传媒檛 know what to tell you. I was surprised by it, actually,sa国际传媒� Trump said.
Trudeau apologized profusely for the third day in a row for the incidents sa国际传媒� 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 shesa国际传媒檚 worried that the apology will fall on deaf ears around the world.
sa国际传媒淧eople in other countries donsa国际传媒檛 have the benefit or the access or the interest in, quite frankly, the day-to-day machinations of Canadian politics so they donsa国际传媒檛 know him as well as we do,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淪o they kind of had him on this pedestal, which was unrealistic and ridiculous, and now hesa国际传媒檚 fallen off that pedestal and so theresa国际传媒檚 almost even more of an oversimplification on the international stage: He was perfect and now hesa国际传媒檚 the devil.sa国际传媒�
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.
READ MORE: Trudeau seeks meeting with Singh to apologize for blackface, brownface photos
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 Trudeausa国际传媒檚 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.
sa国际传媒淭he prime minister continues to have my full and unwavering support,sa国际传媒� 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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