A Canadian MP has made an embarrassing apology after being caught naked during a parliamentary video call.
William Amos appeared in the nude on a Zoom window during the House of Commons question time but was mercifully hidden from the public stream while other members spoke.
Amos apologised immediately following the event, saying he was changing into work clothes after going for a run and didn’t realise the camera was on.
“I made a really unfortunate mistake today and obviously I’m embarrassed by it,” he said.
“I sincerely apologise to all my colleagues in the House. It was an honest mistake and it won’t happen again.”
Canadian MP William Amos didn't realise his webcam was on when he got changed. Image: National Post
Claude DeBellefeuille from the Bloc Québécois party made a point of order after seeing the incident, reminding the house that they should probably keep their clothes on.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic we have tried to emphasise the importance of respecting quorum, the dress code here in the house and I think today we have set a new record,” she said in French.
“We’ve seen a member during question period improperly dressed; that is, unclothed.
“So perhaps remind the members, especially the male members, that suits and ties are called for.
“We have seen that the member was in very good should shape but he should be reminded of what is appropriate and to control his camera.”
I made a really unfortunate mistake today & obviously I’m embarrassed by it. My camera was accidentally left on as I changed into work clothes after going for a jog. I sincerely apologize to all my colleagues in the House. It was an honest mistake + it won’t happen again.
— Will Amos (@WillAAmos) April 14, 2021
There is no formal dress code in the Canadian House of Commons standing orders but its manual for Procedure and Practice does mention it is “contemporary practice and unwritten rule” for men to “wear a jacket, shirt and tie as standard dress”.
Amos’s Zoom window faux-pas certainly is not the first of its kind brought by the sudden onset of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month a surgeon caused a worldwide stir when he appeared at a virtual court hearing while in the operating theatre.
There was also the lawyer who tragically could not turn off a cat filter while in court.
And let’s not forget how one of the preliminary hearings for Twitter hacker Graham Clark was hijacked by trolls who repeatedly disrupted the court while a judge tried his best to kick them out.
The hearing eventually ended after one of the trolls shared a screen playing graphic pornography.
