House Republican Apologizes for Wearing Blackface: ‘Not Something I Would Do Today’

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) apologized on CNN for wearing blackface at a Halloween party, Thursday, claiming the stunt was “an attempt to pay homage” to Michael Jackson.

Responding to the publication of a photo that showed him dressed as Jackson with bronzer on his face at a 2006 Halloween party, Lawler told CNN host Kaitlan Collins:

Obviously, I can’t change what happened 18 years ago, but I certainly, with wisdom and age, understand that that is not something I would do today and certainly understand why people would be upset or offended by it, and for that, I’m sorry. But you know, for me, there was no ill intent. There was no effort to malign or make fun of or disparage Black Americans. It was really an effort to pay homage to somebody who was a musical idol for me. I’ve always loved Michael Jackson’s music and his dance moves and his ability to entertain.

Anyone who knows me knows that, and people who come visit my DC office can see today an Andy Warhol painting of Michael Jackson hanging in my office. So this was really not what I think could truly be construed as blackface, but I certainly understand why people would be offended by it, and for that, I’m sorry.

After Collins asked, “Do you ever think it’s okay for a White person to put on blackface?” Lawler replied, “No, of course not, and in this instance, you know, as I said to the New York Times, you know, I had used a friend’s bronzer, but again, obviously 18 years later, I certainly reflect upon and understand how that can be construed.”

He argued, “But I think there is a stark difference between dressing up for Halloween and paying homage to somebody you like and respect, versus dressing up in blackface to demean and dehumanize Black people, which is what minstrel shows in blackface historically was about. That’s obviously not what I was doing there.”

After Collins compared the controversy to former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s own blackface scandal, and pointed out that Lawler had 59,000 Black people in his district, the congressman responded:

I have spoken to many of my constituents today and in discussing it with them certainly understand how someone would take offense, and for that I do apologize because to me, obviously, given the history in America and given what we have seen with slavery, with racism, and the civil rights movement, obviously we should not and cannot tolerate the demeaning and dehumanation [sic] of Back people, and that is not something certainly that I would do or engage in or tolerate…

So again, I understand how this can be very upsetting to somebody and so certainly I do apologize for that, but for me, obviously, I think intent here is important and there is a difference between, you know, when Governor Northam as a college student dressed up in blackface standing next to somebody in a KKK hood versus obviously me paying homage to Michael Jackson.

The New York Times published the photo of Lawler on Thursday as part of an article detailing the congressman’s bizarre obsession with Jackson.

According to the Times, Lawler even flew from New York to California in 2005 to attend Jackson’s criminal trial after the pop star was charged with sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy – a trial which resulted in Jackson’s acquittal.

Lawler was reportedly ejected from the courtroom after he muttered “something derogatory” about Jackson’s accuser during the trial.

Watch above via CNN.