Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is receiving some serious backlash this week after he made a remark that many think crossed the line of political correctness.
During a town hall meeting at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Trudeau corrected a woman asking a question.
He wasn’t joking: Justin Trudeau interrupts woman during Q&A when she used the word “mankind.” He recommended that she say “peoplekind” instead. pic.twitter.com/mG61BlDcVU
— Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 5, 2018
“That’s why we came here today to ask you to also look into the policies that religious charitable organizations have in our legislation so that it can also be changed. Because maternal love is the change that is going to change the future of mankind…”
Before the woman finished her question, Trudeau cut her off. “We like to say ‘peoplekind’ not necessarily ‘mankind’ because it’s more inclusive,” said the Prime Minister.
“There you go, exactly. Yes. Thank you,” the woman responded in agreement.
The video clip comes off as awkward and a tad unnecessary. Trudeau could have waited until she finished her question to chime in.
And, to be clear, “peoplekind” is not even a real word. Perhaps Trudeau meant to say ‘humankind,” instead.
Of course, people had a lot to say about “peoplekind” and decided to vent about it on social media.
I honestly was going to give Trudeau the benefit of the doubt. I believed that the ‘peoplekind’ comment was a faked video edit. I thought no PM could be this vacuous. Was I wrong.
— Al of Senatorials ™️ (@senatorials) February 6, 2018
The big thing about Trudeau’s #peoplekind comment is that it’s not a word. It’s not in any dictionary. The man is so painfully politically correct he literally invented a new word just to chew out some woman. But I guess it was also her fault for asking him a question.
— J.J. McCullough (@JJ_McCullough) February 6, 2018
“Mankind” is now politically incorrect. We must now say “peoplekind.” Thanks Justin Trudeau.
Deus Ex: Peoplekind Divided
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 6, 2018
I voted Trudeau. Won’t make that mistake again.#Peoplekind
— GhostlyNews (@OneOfTheLines) February 5, 2018
‘One giant leap for peoplekind!’ -Justin Trudeau #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/EgZhDYlxaG
— Chet Cannon (@Chet_Cannon) February 6, 2018
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau interrupts girl to tell her to say “peoplekind” because “mankind” is too offensivehttps://t.co/dMVcE3IXR5 pic.twitter.com/b4M1VFomVG
— Cousin “Riggs” (@RiggsBarstool) February 6, 2018
It wasn’t just tweets. Some individuals were really offended by the term “peoplekind” and took their anger a step further.
Take controversial British journalist/former ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge Piers Morgan, for example.
He was fuming, so he decided to write an article titled “How dare you kill off mankind, Mr Trudeau, you spineless virtue-signalling excuse for a feminist” on DailyMail.com.
“I’ve watched the video a few times now and it gets worse with every viewing. Trudeau comes over as the worst kind of hectoring, bully pulpit smart-a**; dripping with virtuous self-aggrandizing sanctimony,” wrote Morgan.
Ouch.
Right-wing Australian columnist Rita Panahi called Trudeau “the Kim Kardashian of political leaders,” in her column.
“A Zoolander character whose really, really ridiculously good looks no longer distract from his appalling judgment or capacity for asinine comment,” said Panahi.
Justin Trudeau is the Kim Kardashian of political leaders…a Zoolander character whose really, really ridiculously good looks no longer distract from his appalling judgment or capacity for asinine comment.https://t.co/d1ps8e34iJ
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) February 6, 2018
Yup, she isn’t kidding around.
The main thing to take from Trudeau’s “peoplekind” comment is that people will get offended or upset by something – no matter if they lean politically left or right.
No word yet from Merriam Webster as to whether or not peoplekind will be considered for 2018 word of the year…