Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam found himself embroiled in a race row on Friday after a 1984 yearbook photo emerged showing him dressed as either a Klansman or in blackface.

Northam released a statement, according to WRIC, saying he was sorry:

“Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive.

I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now.

This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment.

I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor.”

Northam didn’t indicate if he was posing as the Klansman or in blackface.

But further digging by Twitter user Amber Athey may yield a clue, as Northam’s nickname was apparently “Coonman” in the Virginia Military Institute 1981 yearbook:

Here’s a zoomed in version, courtesy of Archive.org:

The nickname could be a slur against blacks.

Will he also apologize for that?

CNN covered the controversy, but labeled the embattled Democrat as a Republican, as can be seen on Anderson Cooper’s show:

Another example: