Marinus van IJzendoorn declares the following potentially competing interests. As a long-term member of Amnesty International he is a fierce opponent of racial discrimination. He is co-founder of Lolle Nauta Foundation which supports African students and faculty in memory of dr Lolle Nauta, anti-racist social philosopher. Marinus van IJzendoorn is professor at Leiden University in the Institute of Education and Child Studies, in the Department of Child and Family Studies, of which the authors of the original paper are also members. Judi Mesman has been scientific director of the Institute from January 2013 - September 1, 2016. Marinus van IJzendoorn was a PhD advisor of Lenny van Rosmalen (PhD in 2015). Marinus van IJzendoorn declares that despite strong scientific disagreement on the Black Pete study he has no personal grudges against any of the authors.