Virginia governor says racist blackface photo 'isn't him' despite apologising for it before

A Virginia governor has denied that a picture of a racist 1984 medical school yearbook photo features him, despite publically apologising on Friday and acknowledging that he appeared in the image.

Ralph Northam is refusing to resign despite pressure from many in the Democratic party and a lawmaker after he did a 180-degree turn and claimed the photo, which is one man in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe, was not of him.

In a statement about it, he initially said:

I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now.

However two days later he went back on his word and in a press conference, he insisted he did not appear in the photo.

"I am not the person in that photo," he said.

He admitted to wearing blackface to impersonate Michael Jackson at an event the same year.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden was one of many politicians - from both the Democrats and the Republicans - who thought his actions were abhorrent, and many politicians are calling on him to resign. Northam has refused to do so.

Joe Biden said Northam has "lost all moral authority"

Nancy Pelosi called the photo "racist and contrary to fundamental American values"

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants him to go

In fact, the entirety of the Democratic party of Virginia is calling on him to resign

People are criticising that he admitted to blackening his face to dress up as Michael Jackson - which is still wrong

The storm is gaining momentum online, and people are demanding Northam go.

There's also this...

There's a petition calling on him to resign. As of the writing of this article, it has gained 1,214 out of 2,000 signatures.

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