Reaction to Trudeau's blackface runs from 'This can't be real' to 'I didn't really care'

Toronto resident Marcus Vanderwyck, a first-time voter, was setto walk into a voting booth next month and pencilan X beside the Liberal candidate inhis Toronto riding, a show of support for Justin Trudeau.

But sincethe photos of the Liberal leader dressed in brownface and blackface emerged on Wednesday night, he has changed his mind.

"It's changing my whole perspective," he said. "I'm probably going to vote NDP."

He learned about the pictures while on Instagram, saying that at first, he didn't believe what he was seeing.

"I was like, this can't be real. Then it started gettinginto the news more and more and I waslike 'Wow,this is unbelievable'."

'I really didn't care'

But not everyone interviewed by CBC News in St. James Town in Torontoshared Vanderwyck's views.

"Personally for me, I really didn't care," said Lance Manning, whoworks in the area but lives in Brampton."Some of my friends were really offended, but when it comes to my mindset, Ifocus on intent. How he dressed, was there any malicious thought behind it?And my conclusionis, that it isn't."

Trudeau has publicly apologized twice since three pictures and a video of him in either brownface or blackface havecome to light.

On Wednesdaynight, Time magazine published anarticle showing Trudeau wearingbrownfacemakeup and a turban for a 2001 Arabian Nights gala at the Vancouver private school where he taught. Since then, CBC News obtained another photo of Trudeau from that event.

Meanwhile, another picture showsTrudeauat a talent show when he was in high school, wearingblack makeup and singingthe Banana Boat Song(Day-O),a Jamaican folk tunemade famous by black American singer Harry Belafonte

'Making things hard on himself'

Then, on Thursday, the Liberal PartyconfirmedTrudeau appeared in a short amateur video in blackface.

Manning hadn't seen that image of Trudeau, until shown it by CBC News.

"Oh boy," he said, after studying the image."He's making thingshard on himself.He definitely should be more mindful of that kind of stuff."

While he's still undecided as to whohe will vote forandhas voted Liberalin the past, Manning saidthe pictureswon't likelyaffect his decision.

"I like the Liberal party, I like the Trudeau family. His father did a lot for the blackcommunity and immigrantsmigrating to Canada, so I take all that stuff into consideration.

"Will do more researching, but I'malwaysopen to forgiving.People make mistakes in life."

Muhammad Suhail, shown the pictures for the first time, said he couldn't understand why they had generated so much controversy and condemnation.

"Why are peopleupset from that? Maybe he was trying to play,like an actor on stage. I'm OKwith that."

BhavaniMohanadhasalso said that she believes Trudeau is a "good Liberal" and that she doesn't feel he's "doing any racism".

I have been following [him]. He is everywhere supporting other people,different races."

Brooks Smithsaid he was surprised byTrudeau's past behaviour, calling it"a little disgracing."

"That really hurts, that really hurt, because I'm black. And you'd think he''d havemore sensethan that. You'd think he'd be a little smarter than that."

Still vote for Trudeau

But Smith said he will still vote for Trudeau, that people make mistakes when they're younger.

"If this were recently, I'd feel more against him."

However, AndrewRavindran wasn't as forgiving, saying that when he learned the news fromFacebook, it was an "Are you kidding me?" moment.

He said he believes many people continue to dress in "Arabian Night"or Aladdin costumes.

It's really annoying,"he said."I 'm brownso it's a little hard to be used toit. It's just stupid."

Ravindran said he believes Trudeau has likely learned his lesson, but should have known better.

Asked to explain why he found Trudeau's brownface costume so offensive, Ravindran gave a succinct answer:

"He's not brown."