Late-night presenter Jimmy Fallon is facing public backlash after a leaked video showed him wearing blackface in an old “SNL” sketch back in 2000.
Now, the Fallon has publicly apologized for the incident, calling it “unquestionably abhorrent.”
The video in question shows the Fallon and Darrell Hammond sketch, where Jimmy Fallon can be seen impersonating former cast member Chris Rock.
Now multiple social media sites have had the hashtag #JimmyFallonIsOverParty trending.
“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,” Fallon wrote.
Twitter user @chefboyohdear shared footage online from the 20-year-old act and mentioned that “NBC fired Megyn Kelly for mentioning blackface. Jimmy Fallon performed on NBC in blackface.”
“Regis, do you believe that the show’s name, Who Wants $50 Cash and a Pair of Pumas, is the only way to get a brother on it? “ asks Fallon in the skit, stating that the lack of black players on the game show is because “black folks don’t like to answer questions.”
And while the leaked skit is over 20 years old, Fallon only recently revisited his Rock impression by breaking out the voice during the 2017 Golden Globe Awards without blackface.
This controversial video has resurfaced more than once actually, as Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel were criticized last year for not calling out Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for his use of blackface.
Critics of these two show hosts have stated that the two likely hadn’t mocked Northam due to them previously darkening their faces for performances.
Kimmel wore blackface during his portrayal of Oprah Winfrey and Karl Malone during the 2004 Tv program “The Man Show.”
Fallon has yet to face any kind of consequence in response to his impersonation of Rock while in blackface, which he labelled “a terrible decision” and “unquestionably offensive.”
Now many viewers are demanding Fallon be dismissed and his show canceled due to him using blackface to advance his career, despite being entirely aware of its racist intent.
Watch it here: Youtube/BrokenVolume, Youtube/E!News
