The Green Party’s candidate for the Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte riding confirmed in a phone call Tuesday that he’s worn blackface.
“I wore a dressing up, imitating Mr. T, that perpetuates racist attitudes,” Marty Lancaster, the Green Party’s candidate for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte, wrote on Facebook on Monday.
“It was not worn with malicious intent, however it does display my past misunderstanding of how hurtful blackface and similar costumes are.”
“I now know higher,” the Green Party candidate continued on Facebook.
“I’ll proceed to teach myself and work for opportunities to rebuild the trust of my community, my family and particularly the community of individuals of color whom I actually have hurt.”
Lancaster confirmed in a phone call with Global News that he wore the costume 10 years ago for a Halloween contest.
The candidate’s Facebook post comes about two weeks after it got here to light that Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau wore racist makeup on three separate occasions.
“I felt after Trudeau’s incident, and listening to all of the essential comments made by others who showed how they might have been hurt, I felt the necessity to also make my statement,” Lancaster told Global News.
“I’m taking concrete steps to confer with people, to extend my understanding, increase my awareness and my empathy.”
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has also said considered one of her party candidates running in Newfoundland and Labrador admitted to her that he wore blackface many years ago for a comedy skit.
When the news about Trudeau broke, May said she was “deeply shocked” and felt “physically unwell” when she checked out the photo of the Liberal leader wearing brownface.
The Green Party’s press secretary, Rosie Emery, didn’t reply to request for comment in time for publication.
WATCH: Green candidate once wore blackface on comedy show
— With files from Maryam Shah
