Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted to making a mistake when he painted his face brown during a school ceremony in 2001.
Trudeau's remarks came after Time magazine published a photo of him during a ceremony entitled "Thousand and One Nights" at West Point Gray Academy School, where he worked as a teacher in Vancouver.
Trudeau appeared in the picture wearing an Arab turban and dress while his face, neck and hands were painted brown.
"I am angry and very disappointed," Trudeau told reporters during a campaign trip on Wednesday night, adding that the act was racist but he did not notice it at the time and was now better informed, asking Canadians for forgiveness.
The publication of the photograph about a month before the legislative elections was a blow to Trudo's campaign. Time magazine said it got the picture from the school's annual book, where Trudeau worked as a teacher before entering politics.
Trudeau began his campaign with a slight lead over the conservatives led by Andrew Shear in the polls. But the task is not very easy for him after his popularity fell a year and a half ago following a political scandal at the beginning of the year that shook his party.
The scandal, which unfolded earlier this year, tarnished Trudeau's image, cost two ministers and two senior officials their positions, and put liberals in a heated competition with conservative opposition in the election.