U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents New York's 17th Congressional District that includes most of Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, apologized Thursday after the New York Times obtained photos of him wearing blackface about two decades ago at a college Halloween party dressed as Michael Jackson.

In a statement, Lawler's campaign told News 12 that he is a superfan of the late Black music star and didn't mean any offense.

“When attempting to imitate Michael’s legendary dance moves at a college Halloween party 18 years ago, the ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind. Let me be clear, this is not that. Rather, my costume was intended as the sincerest form of flattery," he said.

The images emerged just a little more than a month before the first-term Republican faces a highly competitive reelection fight in a race that could ultimately determine which political party controls Congress.

His Democrat opponent, former Rep. Mondaire Jones, is Black.

The New York Times reported that the photo dates back to a 2006 Halloween party at Manhattan College in the Bronx. The picture shows a young Lawler in a red jacket posing in one of Jackson's famous dance moves, with his face darkened with toner or another substance.

The practice of white people darkening their faces to imitate a Black person has long been considered racist and highly offensive.

"I am a student of history and for anyone who takes offense to the photo, I am sorry," said Lawler. "All you can do is live and learn, and I appreciate everyone's grace along the way.”

Jones' campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.