Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized Thursday after three instances of him in blackface resurfaced in less than 24 hours, but left open the possibility that more footage could come to light.
“I am wary of being definitive about this, because the recent pictures that came out, I had not remembered,” Trudeau said, according to CNBC.
Trudeau’s comments come after a video resurfaced on Thursday that showed Trudeau in dark makeup, raising his hands in the air and making faces while wearing a white T-shirt and jeans ripped at the knees.
On Wednesday night, a Time article published photos of him in brown makeup that Trudeau said was part of an Aladdin costume for an “Arabian Nights”-themed party while he was teaching in Vancouver in 2001.{mosads}
When asked if there were other similar instances during his apology, Trudeau told reporters he also wore dark makeup at a high school talent show while performing the Harry Belafonte song “Day-O.”
“I shouldn’t have done it, I should have known better, but I didn’t,” Trudeau said Wednesday night, referring to the 2001 photo. “And I’m really sorry.”
He added Thursday: “The fact is, I didn’t understand how hurtful this is to people who live with discrimination every single day. I have always said that I come from a place of privilege, but I now need to acknowledge that that comes with a massive blind spot.”
The scandal emerged just weeks after Trudeau launched his reelection campaign.