The man who claims to have given Time magazine the blackface picture of Justin Trudeau says he did so because the ”Canadian public had a right to see it.”

(Time Magazine)

Time reports it received it from Vancouver businessman Michael Adamson, who was identified as being ”part of the West Point Grey Academy community.”

(Cornell University)

”Earlier this month I communicated with a reporter from Time Magazine regarding the existence of a photograph showing Justin Trudeau wearing Brownface at an event while he was a teacher at West Point Grey Academy,” Adamson said in a statement released today.

”As a part member of the WPGA community, I had been aware of gossip surrounding the existence of this photograph and was in a position to provide a copy of it from the school yearbook.”

Trudeau taught there in 2001.

He adds he has never been a member of a political party and received no payment.

”My decision to provide it … was motivated solely by the belief that the Canadian public had a right to see it.”

Adamson says this is the only public comment he will make on the matter.