Blackface Incident

What happened

• In March 2015, while serving as Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Reynders participated in a charity parade in Brussels organised by the group Les Noirauds (literally "the Blacks"). He wore traditional costume with his face painted black ("blackface") as part of the parade.


• The parade dates back to 1876; participants in this tradition wear face paint and fancy dress to raise money for children’s charities.


• Reynders posted photographs (via his blog/tweets) of himself taking part and described the event as joyful and charitable.

Why it caused controversy

• The act of painting one’s face black (blackface) is widely considered racist or deeply insensitive in many countries because of its association with mocking or caricaturing people of African descent.


• Belgium has a colonial history in Central Africa (especially the Congo) under Leopold II which adds a particularly sensitive historical dimension to such imagery and traditions.


• Some minority organisations and people of African descent in Belgium criticised Reynders’s participation. For example, author Chika Unigwe tweeted that such behaviour would end a political career in "other civilised countries".

Reynders’s response

• According to reporting, Reynders did not issue a formal public apology for the blackface participation.


• He defended the event as a charitable tradition and pointed to its long history. His social media/blog posts described the parade positively.

Aftermath and impact

• While the incident drew international media attention and criticism, within Belgian politics the direct consequences for Reynders appear limited. Some commentators refer to him as "Teflon Didier" for his ability to overlook scandals.


• The issue sparked broader debates in Belgium about colonial legacy, traditions involving blackface, and racial sensitivity. For example, a commentary by Human Rights Watch argued that Belgium should confront its colonial past and update such traditions.


• In subsequent years (2023), some Brussels communes changed the tradition of painting faces black in that parade, replacing it with other colours to avoid blackface.