Hayes apologises for wearing ‘brown makeup’ in Obama impersonation

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A Social Democrat TD has apologised for wearing “brown makeup” on his face while dressing up as Barack Obama for Halloween 16 years ago.

Eoin Hayes said a newspaper intended to publish the images on Tuesday and described the incident as a “huge mistake”.

The TD, who said he worked on the former US president’s re-election campaign in 2012, said he takes full responsibility for his “completely inappropriate” actions and condemned racism “in all its forms”.

While I didn't have an understanding of how hurtful it was at the time, I came to recognise that in the intervening years and am so profoundly sorry. What I did was completely inappropriate and a huge mistake

In a statement on X, Mr Hayes said: “At a Halloween party 16 years ago, while president of the Students’ Union in University College Cork, I dressed up as someone greatly admired at the time, US president Barack Obama – whose re-election campaign I went on to work for in 2012.

“As part of this costume, I wore brown makeup on my face and hands.

“I have been told that a news outlet has photographs of this event, which they will publish tomorrow.

“While I didn’t have an understanding of how hurtful it was at the time, I came to recognise that in the intervening years and am so profoundly sorry.

“What I did was completely inappropriate and a huge mistake.”

Mr Hayes added: “I condemn racism in all its forms and do not condone that behaviour under any circumstances.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and from the bottom of my heart, I apologise for any and all hurt caused by what did and the images of that night.”

Mr Hayes was recently reinstated to the Social Democrats parliamentary party after being suspended over incorrect statements about shares he held in a company linked to the Israeli military.

He said he should not have held the shares as long as he did and has donated the equivalent of 43,443 euros to three aid organisations working in Gaza.

He said the amount reflected the increase in the value of the shares he held over the course of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

The Social Democrats won 11 seats in November’s election but Mr Hayes was indefinitely suspended from the parliamentary party in December – just a month after being elected.

He had initially told the media and his party colleagues that he divested shares in his former employer, Palantir Technologies, prior to being elected to Dublin City Council last June.

The company supplies technology to Israel’s military.

But he later revealed that he sold the shares last July – after taking office – for a pre-tax figure of €199,000.

The Social Democrats had been calling for economic sanctions against Israel months before Mr Hayes’s election to the council.

The Dublin Bay South TD’s suspension was reviewed by the national executive of the party before being considered further by the parliamentary party.

The suspension was lifted in July.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns is due to speak to the media in Dublin at the party’s annual think-in on Tuesday morning.