WASHINGTON – According to the New York Times, Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, donned blackface for a Halloween costume in 2006.

Lawler, a first-term congressman, is currently facing a tough race for re-election in New York’s Hudson Valley, a district that President Joe Biden won in 2020. This area is among roughly twenty seats that will be crucial in determining the future control of the U.S. House.

Images released by the Times show Lawler, who is white, dressed in a black shirt and red jacket with his face painted black, mimicking Michael Jackson’s dance moves.

Lawler has often expressed his admiration for Jackson. In a statement to YSL News, he issued an apology, explaining that the costume was intended as a “genuine tribute” to his musical idol from his childhood, when he would try to moonwalk through his mother’s kitchen.

“The hurtful practice of blackface was the last thing on my mind,” he remarked. “To be clear, this was not my intention.”

“I value history, and I apologize to anyone offended by the photo. One must learn and grow, and I appreciate everyone’s understanding during this time,” he added.

Blackface originated in minstrelsy, beginning in the 1830s in New York City, and is widely recognized as degrading and offensive. Numerous other politicians, entertainers, and public personas have faced scrutiny over past blackface incidents, including former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and radio personality Howard Stern.