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

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

Obviously, I can’t exchange what happened 18 years ago, but I surely, with knowledge and age, remember the fact that that isn’t one thing I would do lately and unquestionably understand why folks could be upset or offended with the aid of it, and for that, I’m sorry. However you know, for me, there used to be no ill intent. There was no effort to malign or make fun of or disparage Black American citizens. It was once really an effort to pay homage to someone who was a musical idol for me. I’ve always beloved Michael Jackson’s tune and his dance strikes and his means to entertain.

Someone who is aware of me knows that, and those that come consult with my DC place of job can see nowadays an Andy Warhol portray of Michael Jackson putting in my administrative center. So this was in point of fact not what I feel could truly be construed as blackface, however I no doubt understand why people can be offended through it, and for that, I’m sorry.

After Collins requested, “Do you ever suppose it’s okay for a White individual to place on blackface?” Lawler answered, “No, in fact not, and on this occasion, you recognize, as I mentioned to the New York Occasions, you realize, I had used a pal’s bronzer, however again, obviously 18 years later, I certainly mirror upon and take into account how that may be construed.”

He argued, “But I feel there is a stark distinction between dressing up for Halloween and paying homage to anyone you adore and admire, versus dressing up in blackface to demean and dehumanize Black folks, which is what minstrel presentations in blackface traditionally was once about. That’s clearly now not what I was once doing there.”

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

I have spoken to a lot of my parts as of late and in discussing it with them surely take into account how somebody would take offense, and for that I do express regret because to me, obviously, given the historical past in The united states and given what now we have viewed with slavery, with racism, and the civil rights motion, obviously we will have to no longer and can not tolerate the demeaning and dehumanation [sic] of Back individuals, and that is not one thing unquestionably that I’d do or interact in or tolerate…

So again, I bear in mind how this can be very upsetting to any person and so without a doubt I do make an apology for that, but for me, obviously, I feel intent right here is vital and there’s a distinction between, , when Governor Northam as a college scholar dressed up in blackface standing next to any individual in a KKK hood versus clearly me paying homage to Michael Jackson.

The New York Instances revealed the picture of Lawler on Thursday as a part of an article detailing the congressman’s abnormal obsession with Jackson.

According to the Occasions, Lawler even flew from New York to California in 2005 to attend Jackson’s criminal trial after the pop famous person was charged with sexually abusing a thirteen-yr-previous boy – a trial which resulted in Jackson’s acquittal.

Lawler was reportedly ejected from the court after he muttered “one thing derogatory” about Jackson’s accuser all the way through the trial.

Watch above by the use of CNN.

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