A photo of Republican Rep. Mike Lawler was released Thursday. The photo showed the New York congressman in blackface as part of a 2006 Halloween costume intended to portray pop superstar Michael Jackson.
The photo in question was originally posted on Facebook and was obtained by: new york times. In it, Lawler is seen striking an MJ-inspired pose wearing a red jacket, black shirt, and jeans, with a decidedly dark look on her face.
“Eighteen years ago, when I tried to imitate Michael’s legendary dance moves at my college’s Halloween party, the ugly act of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind,” Lawlor told Daily Kos. said in a statement. “Let me be clear: this is not what this is about.”
Lawler, a self-proclaimed “super fan” of Jackson, confirmed the photo’s authenticity and said the outfit was “a genuine compliment and a nod to my childhood idol from a young age when she was about to do a moonwalk.” Through My Mother’s Kitchen, which she said was intended as a “pure homage to one person.” ”
Needless to say, dressing up in blackface is understood to be evil. racist and reprehensible We’ve been around much longer than the last 18 years. And shrinking behind a pop star’s fandom to protect it is…a choice.
In a statement, Lawler described himself as “ student of history,” and apologized “to those who were offended” by the photo of him in blackface.
The roller is Democrats aim to take back the Republican-led House of Representatives this November and are currently up for re-election. his swing seat President Joe Biden wins New York’s 17th Congressional District by more than 10 points in 2020. Lawler’s Democratic opponent, Mondaire Jones, is a former congressman who also happens to be black.
