Ralph Northam Insists He’s Not In Racist Photo, Admits To Wearing Blackface On Another Occasion
Less than 24 hours after confirming that he appeared in a racist photo that was in his 1984 medical school yearbook, Democratic Virginia Governor Ralph Northam walked back those claims in a truly bananas press conference, insisting that he was neither the person wearing blackface or the one wearing a KKK robe in the picture.
How was he so certain? Northam said it was because he wore blackface on ANOTHER occasion and the regret he felt over that was “so vivid” that he knows he couldn’t have done it any other time.
Yes, this is the excuse the governor is going for.
“In the hours since I made my statement yesterday, I reflected with my family and classmates from the time and affirmed my conclusion that I am not the person in that photo,” he said Saturday afternoon. “While I did not appear in this photo, I am not surprised by its appearance in the EVMS yearbook. In the place and time where I grew up, many actions that we rightfully recognize as abhorrent today were commonplace.”
Northam then recounted the time that he wore blackface to portray Michael Jackson for an event.
“My belief that I did not wear that costume or attend that party stems in part from my clear memory of other mistakes I made in the same period of that same year,” he stated. “I did participate in a dance contest in San Antonio in which I darkened my face as part of a Michael Jackson costume. I look back now and regret that I did not understand the harmful legacy of an action like that.”
The Virginia governor added that it was “because my memory of that episode is so vivid that I truly do not believe I am in the picture in my yearbook — you remember these things.”
Let’s just say this strategy of Northam claiming another instance of wearing blackface is proof that he wasn’t one of the two people in the photo on his yearbook page was met with not just skepticism, but outright confusion and head-scratching.
Northam claims he did wear blackface to be in a Michael Jackson costume.. which he claims caused his confusion that the picture in the yearbook was him.
This is like watching a trainwreck in slow motion.
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 2, 2019
Shorter Ralph Northam: I will not step aside and allow a Black man to have this job even though it would behoove my party and constituents – and they are demanding it. (Also, that may or may not be me in the yearbook photo and I once donned Blackface at a Michael Jackson party).
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) February 2, 2019
Ralph Northam couldn’t remember Michael Jackson’s name just a few seconds ago, but we’re supposed to trust his memory about his med school yearbook?
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) February 2, 2019
Northam: I thought it was me in the photo because I dressed up in blackface as Michael Jackson around that time.
Does this photo look ANYTHING like Michael Jackson? pic.twitter.com/XAxd1CKaqN
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 2, 2019
Northam: I didn't dress as a Klansman or the blackface guy next to him. But I did war blackface in a talent show to look like Michael Jackson.https://t.co/wKrQYzQhdN
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) February 2, 2019
Northam says he won the contest in which he dressed up like Michael Jackson for a skit.
And he jokes about how it’s hard to get shoe polish of your face.
— Annie Linskey (@AnnieLinskey) February 2, 2019
Northam also refused to resign, saying he has no intention stepping down while insisting throughout that he wasn’t in the photo and that it could have possibly have been placed on his yearbook page accidentally. The governor is under intense pressure from his own party to step down, as Democrats have roundly condemned him and openly called for his resignation.
Watch the clip above, via CNN.