SA One Nation candidate Linda Champion in blackface scandal after pictures of husband emerge

Days after appearing on the campaign trail with Pauline Hanson, an SA One Nation candidate has distanced herself from pictures of her husband in blackface.

A South Australian One Nation candidate has been embroiled in a blackface scandal after images emerged of her husband wearing black make-up.

Spence candidate Linda Champion was joined by Pauline Hanson on the campaign trail at Elizabeth Shopping Centre last week.

The Advertiser has unearthed a photo shared by Champion’s son Jimmy in 2012, which shows Darren Champion wearing dark-brown paint on his face and body and a curly black wig.

Mr Champion re-shared the image to his own Facebook page again in 2016, with the caption “brother from another mother”.

The image shared to Jimmy Champion's Facebook page, which shows Mr Champion in blackface.

Mr Champion re-shared the image to his own profile again in 2016.

When approached by The Advertiser, Ms Champion distanced herself from the images, saying she was “not responsible for (them)”.

“I have not worn ‘blackface’ and I did not post these images,” she said.

Mr Champion has since removed his Facebook page.

Previous blackface incidents involving Australian media personalities have resulted in public outcry, particularly on social media.

In 2018, Indigenous and Jewish groups condemned photos of students at North Adelaide residential college St Mark’s dressed up in blackface and as Adolf Hitler.

In 2021, a number of South Australian venues cancelled scheduled appearances by TV personality Sam Newman, following backlash over his controversial views and a resurfaced blackface skit about ex-St Kilda player Nicky Winmar.

Hey Hey It’s Saturday host Daryl Somers was forced to apologise in 2009 and again in 2020, when footage resurfaced of blackface sketches on the program.

One Nation is focusing its campaign energy on Spence after a strong result at the polls in the March state election.

Pauline Hanson with candidate for Spence Linda Champion during a walk-around at Woolworths Elizabeth Shopping centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

Ms Champion and Senator Hanson received a warm welcome at Elizabeth last week, with one “super fan” rushing from the local pub to meet his hero.

But not all were excited by Senator Hanson’s appearance, with transgender woman Rebecca Hammond despondent following her interaction with the One Nation leader.

Ms Hammond said Senator Hanson quickly became uncomfortable when asked how she would support transgender South Australians.

Ms Hammond said she was disappointed transgender rights had become a political football in recent weeks after a number of controversial tweets emerged by Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves.

Ms Deves sparked outrage over comments surrounding “mutilated” trans children and the comparison of her anti-trans “activism” as akin to that of the Nazi resistance.