New York Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Hudson Valley) marked Michael Jackson’s birthday over the weekend by posting a photo of himself dressed as the pop star.
The image bears an uncanny resemblance to decades-old photos that became the subject of a scandal two years ago, which showed the congressman in blackface, a racist practice, donning the same costume.
Lawler posted the new picture on X xon Saturday, wearing a red leather jacket, a black V-neck shirt, and sunglasses—though no blackface this time. “It’s a little snug, but it still fits! Happy Birthday MJ,” he wrote in the post.
The outfit echoed a 2006 Halloween costume from Lawler’s college days at Manhattan College, when he was photographed with his skin visibly darkened while dressed as Jackson. The New York Times unearthed the photos in October 2024, reporting that Lawler did not dispute their authenticity.
At the time, Lawler told the Times the costume was “truly the sincerest form of flattery, a genuine homage to my musical hero since I was a little kid trying to moonwalk through my mom’s kitchen,” adding that “the ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind” and that he was sorry to anyone who took offense.
The Times report came the same week Politico’s New York Playbook documented two instances in which Lawler did not push back on racist rhetoric in his presence. At a Chappaqua forum on antisemitism, Lawler spoke shortly after a participant used a racial slur for Black people, without addressing the remark, according to audio Politico reviewed.
Lawler’s weekend post drew swift blowback in the replies. “Are you really this dumb? You seriously think it’s a good idea to remind everyone of when you wore blackface?” one user wrote. Another called the post “weird,” while another said it was a “crazy move” to post the picture.
Lawler, who represents the Hudson Valley’s 17th Congressional District, is running for reelection against Democrat Cait Conley, a US Army veteran, in a race both parties consider competitive.
Lawler’s office did not respond to Courier New York’s request for comment.
