Canadian PM Justin Trudeau walks back ‘peoplekind’ comments: ‘I made a dumb joke’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized Wednesday after correcting a constituent for not using a politically correct term during a town hall he attended last week in British Columbia.

What's the back story?

Trudeau interrupted a woman who used the term "mankind" in a question and advised her to use "humankind," saying the latter term was more inclusive.

"We like to say 'peoplekind,' not necessarily 'mankind,' because it’s more inclusive," Trudeau said.

Those gathered for the town hall broke into applause, not realizing that Trudeau was apparently making a joke.

"We can all learn from each other," he added.

What's he saying now?

Trudeau backtracked on the remark and said that he was simply making a "dumb joke."

"You all know that I don’t necessarily have the best of track records on jokes," Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa, according to Reuters. "I made a dumb joke a few days ago that seems to have gone a little viral."

He added, "It played well in the room and in context. Out of context it doesn’t play so well and it’s a little reminder to me that I shouldn’t be making jokes even when I think they’re funny."

Anything else?

Trudeau's remarks that his politically correct comment was a "dumb joke" seems out of character for some of his causes.

For example, Trudeau in January tweeted that a bill that would make "O Canada," the Canadian national anthem, more inclusive by changing verbiage contained in the song's lyrics more gender-neutral.

"Mauril’s bill to make O Canada gender neutral passed third reading in the Senate tonight — another positive step towards gender equality. #inallofuscommand," Trudeau tweeted.

Mauril’s bill to make O Canada gender neutral passed third reading in the Senate tonight - another positive step towards gender equality. #inallofuscommand

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 1, 2018