US chat show host
Jimmy Fallon has apologised after video resurfaced of him wearing Blackface during a sketch on
Saturday Night Live.
The star’s name trended on
Twitter on Tuesday after clips and pictures of him wearing dark make-up to portray comedian and former
SNL star Chris Rock began circulating. Responding to criticism, Jimmy tweeted: “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.”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.— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) May 26, 2020Jimmy appeared on SNL from 1998 until 2004, leaving the show to pursue film roles, later becoming the sixth permanent host of the
Late Night US chat show The
Tonight Show in 2014.
SNL has an established history of casting non-Black actors in Black roles, with Billy Crystal playing Sammy Davis Jr in 1984 and more recently former US president Barack Obama was portrayed by Fred Armisen.
Jimmy’s fellow late night host
Jimmy Kimmel has also faced similar criticism for wearing dark make-up to impersonate
Oprah Winfrey in a sketch previously.READ MORE: Tiger King's Carole Baskin Tricked Into Interview By Fake Jimmy Fallon Producers Jimmy Fallon Faces Backlash Over Morrissey's Far-Right Pin
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