Jimmy Fallon apologizes for appearing in blackface on SNL sketch

Jimmy Fallon may be used to putting celebs in the hot seat on The Tonight Show, but after an old video of him doing blackface on Saturday Night Live recently resurfaced, the host found himself in the line of fire. Because once it’s on the internet, it’s there for life.After the #JimmyFallonIsOver hashtag started trending on May 25, Fallon took to social media himself to issue an apology. “There is no excuse for this,” he wrote to his 51.9 million followers. “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, 2020

The original sketch in question was from a 2000 episode of Saturday Night Live in which Fallon was doing an impression of Chris Rock while fellow star (and current announcer) Darrell Hammond played TV host Regis Philbin. Fallon specifically sports a textured wig and dark brown makeup in the bit, which disappointed fans everywhere who were seeing it for the first time this week. The video is no longer available on the NBC site, but again: since it’s on the internet it’s there for life. Fans were easily able to find the clip on YouTube and Twitter.So far, reps from SNL, Hammond or Rock (who was also an SNL cast member from 1990-93) haven’t responded to the video, although to be fair, Rock is pretty busy preparing for two new films right now—The Witches and I Am Maurice. Plus, he’s near completion on the new season of FX’s Fargo, which was shut down early due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rock joins the anthology series as Loy Cannon for its fourth run, and critics and fans alike have been eagerly anticipating the debut.