Why did Justin Trudeau apologize during the 2019 federal election campaign?

During the 2019 federal election campaign, Justin Trudeau issued multiple apologies after images and a video surfaced showing him wearing "brownface" and "blackface" on several occasions in the 1990s and early 2000s.12

The first incident involved a 2001 yearbook photo from a private school where he taught, which depicted him in brownface as part of an "Arabian Nights"-themed costume. Following the publication of this photo, Trudeau acknowledged and apologized for additional instances, including a high-school performance where he wore blackface and a separate video from the 1990s that also showed him in blackface.12

These revelations were particularly damaging because they contradicted his public image as a champion of inclusivity and tolerance. In his apologies, Trudeau expressed deep regret, stating that while he did not consider the actions racist at the time, he recognized that they were racist and that he should not have participated in them.12