U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler said he was sorry after the New York Times obtained photos of him wearing blackface about two decades ago at a college Halloween costume party where he dressed as Michael Jackson.

U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler said he was sorry Thursday after the New York Times obtained photos of him wearing blackface about two decades ago at a college Halloween costume party where he dressed as Michael Jackson.

The images emerged as Lawler, a first-term Republican, is locked in a competitive reelection fight for his congressional seat in New York’s Hudson Valley.

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Lawler described himself as a lifelong Jackson superfan who was attempting to pay homage to the pop star.

The Times reported that the photo was taken in 2006 when Lawler was 20. In an image posted by the newspaper, Lawler can be seen wearing a red jacket and posing with an outstretched arm in one of Jackson’s signature dance moves. He used bronzer to darken his face.

  • ThirdWorldOrder@lemm.ee
    29·
    1 month ago

    I was 23 at that time. Went to college and was in Lambda Chi fraternity at a pretty popular school. Went to tons of parties for about a decade. Never once even heard or saw black face ever in my life until recently hearing about all these politicians that did it. It’s so bizarre.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      132·
      1 month ago

      I don’t ever remember seeing any blackface in college. Did I see bigoted stereotypical bullshit regarding Mexicans and Indigenous Americans? Absolutely. But even in Indiana, I didn’t see blackface.

      Also, I used to emcee comedy nights at a local club back then, so I saw a lot of college students in Halloween costumes. I don’t ever remember blackface. I do remember seeing a group of girls dressed as all the main characters from The Dukes of Hazzard get up and sing Jesse’s Girl at the karaoke night that came after the comedy night ended. That was fun.