Robbie Gatti probably wasn’t banking on a photo of him in an ill-advised photo of him donning blackface to resurface as he is campaigning for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives chamber. However, the GOP candidate is refusing to apologize for the racist get up and gave a half-baked response as to why he foolishly darkened his skin.
The Daily Mail reports:
A Louisiana politician who wore blackface to dress up as Tiger Woods for a community event has defended the controversial costume, insisting it was merely part of a ‘good night at church’.
Robbie Gatti, who describes himself as an ‘unwavering conservative’, was scrutinized by residents in Bossier City after a photograph of him in the costume at First Baptist Church surfaced this week.
He has since defended it, issuing a statement to say he meant no harm with the get-up and said its resurgence is a smear attempt by his political opponents.
‘Fifteen years ago, my church held a fall festival, where all the volunteers were told to dress as a famous person.
‘Tiger Woods was at the height of his popularity, as a world champion, and that was who I was dressed as. Shortly after this event, I was ordained into the church.
Gatti’s weak defense continued with “I’m sad that my opponents have taken a good night at church and turned it into negative, political mud, but I’m confident the voters of Bossier will not fall for their desperate attacks.”
Of course, it’d be too much of the right thing to do in just saying that blackface was a poor choice in costume application and he could have pulled off the Woods outfit in a variety of other ways. Gatti’s “good night at church” featured a man of the cloth and hopeful politician offensively portraying himself as a Black man and not showing any racial sensitivity or natural good sense.
Sadly, this might not deter voters from electing him to the House. Shame on anyone who allows Gatti to walk unscathed after such a blatantly racist display.
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Photo: Facebook
