A retired plastic surgeon from Roanoke has come forward and apologized for donning blackface in his Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook — just one year after Gov. Ralph Northam’s “shockingly racist” annual came out.
“It was a Halloween party,” explained Dr. Michael Breiner, associate professor at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg.
“I am a big fan of Diana Ross. I love the Supremes,” he told WFXR on Monday night. “I have a lot of great African-American friends. I still do. And they gave me their blessing that this would not offend them.”
Breiner, a 1985 graduate of EVMS, claimed to have “talked to our other African-American medical students” about wearing blackface — asking them, “Would this upset you?”
According to him, they said no.
“Do I regret it now? Yeah,” Breiner admitted. “It’s a different time. This was 35 years ago.”
At least two photos have surfaced of Breiner donning blackface in his yearbook.
“I meant no disrespect to the African-American community,” he said.
Northam has been dealing with his EVMS yearbook scandal — and calls to resign — since last Friday, when a photo emerged online from his 1984 annual showing a man in a KKK hood standing next to another man in blackface.
“There is no defense for that shockingly racist photograph,” seethed Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) in response.
“Ralph Northam is my friend and he served well as my Lt. Governor and as Governor,” said former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe — who like Northam, is a Democrat.
“His actions on display in this photo were racist, unacceptable and inexcusable at any age and any time,” McAuliffe said. “The situation that he has put himself and the Commonwealth of Virginia in is untenable. It’s time for Ralph to step down, and for the Commonwealth to move forward.”
Northam has told reporters that despite the outrage, he will not be leaving in office — claiming it’s not actually him in the yearbook photo. He has been meeting with top officials in his administration this week to discuss whether he can still govern amid such a big scandal.
Northam reportedly told staffers that he was ultimately worried about leaving office as a “racist for life.”
