Law Firm Partner Apologizes After Pic Of Him In Blackface Surfaces

I pity the fool who thinks blackface is acceptable!

Mr. T And Nik Wallenda Celebrate National Amazing Month

The real Mr. T (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)

A picture of Kevin Horn, a family law partner in the UK firm Warner Goodman, wearing a Mr. T costume has surfaced. And, since Above the Law is writing about it, you’re correct to assume the outfit included blackface.

When will people learn it’s never okay to use skin tone as a costume?

Warner Goodman appears contrite at their partner’s awful judgment. As reported by Legal Cheek:

The firm’s managing partner, Andy Munden, said his colleague had now apologised for his actions and that he “deeply regrets any offence he may have caused”. Horn also “accepts his behaviour was an error of judgement”.

“We want to make it clear that this incident does not in any way reflect the culture of Warner Goodman LLP where diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of our core values,” Munden told Legal Cheek. “That said we will now be redoubling our efforts to embed these values into the culture of our firm.”

Munden confirmed the firm will not be taking disciplinary action against Horn, but that it would prioritise building on its existing diversity and inclusion training.

This, he continued, will include an additional programme of diversity and inclusion education for “each and every one of our staff members”. The firm has also reported the incident to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Wait, 2016? This isn’t like some super old picture from the 1980s? Yikes… That’s mighty recent. Above the Law’s archives of the problems of lawyers donning blackface go back further than that. And, specifically, blackface scandals from the United Kingdom predate the offending picture. Plus the costume party in question was a work event, just giving the entire affair — and the firm’s apology on behalf of its partner — an extra ick factor. There is really no excuse for any of this.

A firm insider told Roll on Friday “I am disgusted” over the scandal, and that pretty much covers it.

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As costume season, a.k.a. October, has now begun, consider this your APPARENTLY STILL NECESSARY reminder that blackface is never, ever okay.


Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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