Jimmy Fallon Apologizes Over Old Blackface Video: I Am Very Sorry, Thank You For Holding Me Accountable 

Jimmy Fallon Apologizes Over Old Blackface Video: I Am Very Sorry, Thank you For Holding Me Accountable

Update #2: Jimmy Fallon has responded, addressing the controversial moment on social media. He writes:

In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface. There is no excuse for this. I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable.

Original Story: Late-night host/comedian Jimmy Fallon is the latest celebrity to be accused of racism in a resurfaced clip from “Saturday Night Live.” While once considered to be one of Hollywood’s least problematic, Jimmy Fallon is now on the chopping block as rapper Doja Cat was this past weekend with the hashtag, #JimmyFallonIsOver, trending on Twitter. A clip from an episode of “Saturday Night Live” from the year 2000 has resurfaced on social media. In the comedy sketch, Jimmy impersonates comedian Chris Rock as he has with many other celebrities, but the clip is peculiar considering his face, hands, and neck are covered in brown make-up. This is considered blackface, an inappropriate age-old theatrical tactic which Merriam-Webster defines as:

“…dark makeup worn (as by a performer in a minstrel show) in a caricature of the appearance of a black person…The wearing of blackface by white performers was, from the early 19th through the mid-20th centuries, a prominent feature of minstrel shows and similar forms of entertainment featuring exaggerated and inaccurate caricatures of black people. Its modern occurrence in imitation of such performers is considered deeply offensive.”

https://twitter.com/chefboyohdear/status/1265147631497547777?s=20

This wasn’t Jimmy Fallon’s first time impersonating Chris Rock. He impersonated the comedy icon in front of the entire industry at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards.

Meanwhile, social media ripped the “Tonight Show” host to shreds over the vintage clip.

https://twitter.com/cassiejay02/status/1265210479393345536?s=20

Jimmy Fallon has not yet responded to the controversy.

What do you think about the clip that’s resurfaced? Let us know in the comments!