You’d think by the time the 2000s hit, everyone would have heard a little something about ‘blackface’ and why it’s bad.

Here’s a refresher.

‘Blackface’ was originally a form of theatrical make-up used predominantly by non-black performers to represent an often racist caricature of a black person.

So when white people do ‘blackface’, it’s a celebration of or throwback to this racist practice.

Short version – it’s racist. Don’t do it. End of story.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clearly didn’t get the message – twice.

A photo has emerged of Trudeau doing ‘brownface’ at an “Arabian Nights”-themed gala, reports TIME.

It shows Trudeau, then the 29-year-old son of the late former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, wearing a turban and robes with his face, neck and hands completely darkened. The photograph appears in the 2000-2001 yearbook of West Point Grey Academy, a private day school where Trudeau was a teacher.

Earlier this month, TIME obtained a copy of the yearbook, The View, with the photograph of Trudeau in brownface from Vancouver businessman Michael Adamson, who was part of the West Point Grey Academy community.

Adamson was not at the party, which was attended by school faculty, administrators and parents of students. He said that he first saw the photograph in July and felt it should be made public.

Ya, that’s awkward. Not a good look, Trudeau.

This is worse than that time he insisted on only wearing traditional garb on a trip to India.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday night, following TIME’s publication of the photo, Trudeau apologized: “I shouldn’t have done that. I should have known better and I didn’t. I’m really sorry.” When asked if he thought the photograph was racist, he said, “Yes it was. I didn’t consider it racist at the time, but now we know better.”

TIME also reports that the PM went on to admit doing ‘blackface’ in the past.

In a new revelation, Trudeau also admitted that he wore blackface “makeup” in high school to sing “Day-O,” a Jamaican folk song famously performed by African-American singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte.

“When I was in high school I dressed up at a talent show and sang ‘Day O.’ With makeup on,” he said.

OK, that’s worse.

All of this is happening five weeks before the Canadian elections, and polls indicate that Trudeau is in a dead heat with the Conservative Party.

According to CBC News’ poll tracker on Sept. 18, which aggregates all publicly available polling data, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party were polling at 34.4% and 34.2% respectively. The New Democratic Party was polling at 13.5% and the Green Party was polling at 9.7%.

I bet he misses the days when all anyone could talk about was how great his butt is.

[source:time&time]