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Decades-old Swastika Photo Sparks Hudson Williams Controversy

6/8/2026

22 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A decades-old high-school photo of Hudson Williams with a Sharpie-drawn swastika on his forehead resurfaced online, prompting renewed scrutiny.
Williams, a 25-year-old Canadian actor, says he did not notice the drawing then, now deeply regrets it and says it does not reflect his beliefs.
He has not commented publicly as the controversy arises while he promotes Yaga and the second season of Heated Rivalry after winning a Canadian Screen Award.

History

Historical Context

1920 saw the Nazi Party, under Adolf Hitler, adopt the tilted black swastika on a red-white-red flag; by year-end it had about 2,000 members. The emblem became Germany’s co-national flag in 1933 and sole flag in 1935, fixing its hate-symbol meaning. Hudson Williams’ Sharpie-drawn swastika on a school photo now draws scrutiny from Canadian Screen Award winners and media producers.

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Story summary

A decades-old high-school photo of Hudson Williams with a Sharpie-drawn swastika on his forehead resurfaced online, prompting renewed scrutiny.
Williams, a 25-year-old Canadian actor, says he did not notice the drawing then, now deeply regrets it and says it does not reflect his beliefs.
He has not commented publicly as the controversy arises while he promotes Yaga and the second season of Heated Rivalry after winning a Canadian Screen Award.

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