Faron Hamblin News Today

M Faron Hamblin, a member of the Warsaw, Va., Town Council, said he wore blackface, complete with a blue suit, curly wig and dark makeup, for a social media post out of "love" and "respect" to pay tribute to a character played by actor Eddie Murphy in the 1988 film "Coming to America."

The image went viral.

Warsaw town council member Faron Hamblin said he wore blackface out of respect and love, and only to dress the part. He later issued an apology to Richmond County NAACP.

Halloween has come and gone, but not without another entry in the annals of I'm-sorry-about-my-blackface costume. In this case, the controversy centers around a local Virginia...

A Virginia politician has apologized for sharing a picture online that drew accusations that he was dressed in blackface. Zach Gibson/Getty Images A

“Many saw it degrading, which I did not,” the local politician wrote in a now-deleted online apology.

The Daily Newscast

The councilman said that he never intended to be racist and instead did it because he believes everyone should have the freedom of expression.