") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.ewxxwj::before{display:none}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hBtwqu .taboola{display:none}}.gKtCsF.register-wall-style{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -10px 16px 13px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.gKtCsF.closed{display:none}.cydNlZ{display:block;margin:0 0 16px;color:inherit;text-decoration:underline}.dHAlCf{display:inline-block}.dHAlCf button svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}:not(.subscribed) .dHAlCf{margin:0 12px 0 0}.subscribed .dHAlCf{margin:0 0 16px 0}.ehwQKm{display:block;overflow:hidden;width:34px;height:34px;outline-color:#337e81}.ehwQKm.saved svg circle{fill:#337e81}.ehwQKm.saved svg path{fill:#fff;stroke:#fff}.fVRQAa{display:none;position:fixed;top:0;right:0;z-index:1002;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:12px;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);color:#fff;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:8px;opacity:0}@media(min-width:768px){.fVRQAa{top:24px;right:22px;width:400px}}.fVRQAa.show-notification{display:block;opacity:1;transition:1s opacity}.fzIwMY{position:absolute;top:6px;right:10px;cursor:pointer;font-size:14px}.hltAOp{margin:0;font-family:'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.5px;line-height:1.38}.YqNoR{margin:5px 0;font-size:14px;line-height:normal}.cZjZhw{color:#337e81}.jdHyWl{font-size:12px}.inYZBd{display:block}@media(min-width:768px){.inYZBd{display:block}}.inYZBd:last-child button{margin-right:0}.inYZBd path{stroke:#fff}.zmVYE button{margin-right:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.zmVYE{display:none}.zmVYE button{margin-right:12px}}.dVWpvP{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dVWpvP{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.dVWpvP svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff;stroke:#fff}.dVWpvP amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.dVWpvP amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.dVWpvP amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dVWpvP .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#3b5998}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#2f4779}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#4a90e2;--color-alt:#4a90e2;background:var(--color)}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#1da851}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-email{background:#ec1a2e}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#ac2a2c}.dVWpvP .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.eenvLS svg{fill:#fff;stroke:#fff}.cxhmLW{display:flex}.sticky .cxhmLW{flex-direction:column}.gvXhxM{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.gvXhxM{height:25px}}.iapcTM{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.iapcTM::after{content:':'}.byOchr{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.cMKTiV>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .cMKTiV>p{line-height:27px}.cMKTiV>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .cMKTiV>h2{color:#0074bd}.article-sgi .cMKTiV>h2{color:#2dccd3}.cMKTiV>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.cMKTiV span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.eEoeZu{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}.teads .eEoeZu{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.uCvyt{display:none}}.uCvyt[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.uCvyt #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.uCvyt.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.cJesZw{display:flex;overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;gap:4px;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.cJesZw{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.cJesZw{max-width:622px}}.eRdpnN{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.eRdpnN{padding:16px 12px 0}}.dmUfSr{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin-block:0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dmUfSr{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;text-align:left}}.bvjEjS{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;padding:4px 12px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}.kXekYs{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jnFpgW{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;margin-block:0}.iIHOax{display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;gap:16px;margin:16px 0 0}@media(min-width:768px){.iIHOax{margin:16px 0}}.bMelEi{margin-bottom:4px;font:bold 20px/24px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.032px;margin-block:0}.eoUGrv{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.026px;margin-block:0}.ljzdLI{width:50px;height:55px}.eIgfrf{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;gap:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.eIgfrf{flex-direction:row;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:16px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.htLSUi{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.htLSUi{max-width:236px}}.czCuVM{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.czCuVM{display:flex}}.cWGfXb{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.cWGfXb{display:none}}.cYdwjL{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}.ehUDmh{position:absolute;top:0;left:0}.dXLgWb{max-width:100%}.bnNINi{position:relative;aspect-ratio:16/9}.bnNINi>div,.bnNINi>img{position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%}.fIQjIZ.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.fIQjIZ .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#fff;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.ijUOSQ{position:relative}}.ijUOSQ .jw-flag-floating.jw-floating-dismissible .jw-wrapper{bottom:2rem}.ijUOSQ .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper{right:0}.ijUOSQ .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper.jw-float-to-top{top:0;bottom:auto}.gLsdeF{max-width:100%;clear:both}.iCRxVL.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.iCRxVL.mobile-only{display:none}}.iCRxVL.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.iCRxVL.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.iCRxVL.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.jycmuO{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.jycmuO .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.jycmuO .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.jycmuO .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.jycmuO .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.jycmuO .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.jycmuO .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.jycmuO .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.jycmuO .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.jycmuO .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%;float:left}.jycmuO .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.jycmuO .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px 0}.article-feature .jycmuO .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.jycmuO.sponsored-article img,.jycmuO.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.jycmuO.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.jycmuO .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.jycmuO .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font-family:'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;font-size:52px;font-weight:normal;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase}.jycmuO .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.jycmuO .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.jycmuO #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.jycmuO #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.jycmuO #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.jycmuO #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.jycmuO .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jycmuO{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.jycmuO{max-width:624px;margin:0}.jycmuO.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.jycmuO{padding-right:0}.jycmuO .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.ditsfG{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.ditsfG{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ditsfG{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.dxTPdy{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.dxTPdy::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.dxTPdy:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.dxTPdy{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.dxTPdy::before{margin-top:2px}}.dxTPdy time{display:block}.dxTPdy time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eHtxCY{color:#fff}.fULfOe{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.fULfOe:hover,.fULfOe:active{color:#ac2a2c}@media(min-width:768px){.fULfOe{margin-bottom:0}}.gugpMY{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.gugpMY::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.gugpMY:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.gugpMY{margin-bottom:0}}.dLwSzL::before{color:#fff}.ierIwW{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.ierIwW{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ierIwW{width:30%}}.ggrdNp{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.ggrdNp{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.ggrdNp .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.ggrdNp .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ggrdNp{flex-direction:row}}.hKyPUQ{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.hKyPUQ{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .hKyPUQ{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.hKyPUQ{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .hKyPUQ{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.hKyPUQ a{color:#222}.hKyPUQ a:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.hKyPUQ a:hover::after{color:#222}.hKyPUQ a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.hKyPUQ a:last-child::after{display:none}.Axkkz{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.jNPhIG{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.jNPhIG{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.jNPhIG{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.jNPhIG p{font:inherit}.article-feature .jNPhIG a{font-weight:bold}.fZLZuJ{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff}@media(min-width:1000px){.fZLZuJ{padding:0 16px}.parallax .fZLZuJ{max-width:1240px}}.bGQtoA{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bGQtoA{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bGQtoA{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.lhQfNw{background:#222}.lhQfNw .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.lhQfNw .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.lhQfNw .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.lhQfNw .sc-22qwnu-0,.lhQfNw .sc-22qwnu-0 a{color:#fff}.lhQfNw .sc-qvufca-2,.lhQfNw .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.lhQfNw .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.lhQfNw .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}.BvwOE{position:relative;padding:24px 0 12px;margin:0 12px;color:#fff;font:normal 12px/16px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.BvwOE{margin:0 16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.BvwOE{margin:0}}.BvwOE::after{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;height:1px;background-color:#d3d3d3;content:''}.kBoBOY{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .kBoBOY{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.kBoBOY{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kBoBOY{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.krPTAI{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.bJuTTT{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.bJuTTT.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.hCzMkb{min-height:600px}.hCzMkb #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.fyBcEr{max-width:100%}.egNilO{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.iypon{margin:0 0 12px}.iBbbxQ{height:380px}.cJhVZw{width:100%;height:51px}.elzxNt{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.iaGggL{margin-bottom:16px}.iaGggL [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.iaGggL [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.iaGggL [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.iaGggL [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.iaGggL [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.iaGggL [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.iaGggL [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.iaGggL [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}@media(max-width:767px){.csFWjG{display:none}}.ftqPbV{width:308px}.ftqPbV.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.ftqPbV{display:none}}.article-liveblog .gVBbut{background-color:#f7f7f7}.hMHCJv{justify-content:center}.jnSoZZ{justify-content:center}
The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Culture TV & Radio News Chris Rock defends Jimmy Fallon’s blackface impersonation of him: ‘He didn’t mean anything’ Fallon donned blackface for sketch in 2000 episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’
Jimmy Fallon says he was advised to stay quiet amid blackface controversy Leer en Español Support truly independent journalism Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth. Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Find out more Chris Rock has defended Jimmy Fallon over a resurfaced comedy skit in which Fallon wore blackface to impersonate him .
In May, the clip from a 2000 episode of Saturday Night Live went viral, often alongside the hashtag #JimmyFallonIsOverParty. In the clip, Fallon wears blackface for an impression of Rock.
Rock has now stated that he valued the intention behind the impersonation.
“I’m friends with Jimmy,” Rock told The New York Times . “Jimmy’s a great guy. And he didn’t mean anything. A lot of people want to say intention doesn’t matter, but it does. And I don’t think Jimmy Fallon intended to hurt me. And he didn’t.”
Rock also declined to say that television has gone “too far” in its removal of historic comedy series that have used blackface. In recent months, comedies including Little Britain , 30 Rock and The Golden Girls have had episodes that feature the practice removed from streaming .
“If I say [they’ve gone too far], then I’m the worst guy in the world,” Rock said. “There’s literally one answer that ends my whole career. Blackface ain’t cool, OK? That’s my quote. Blackface is bad. Who needs it?
“It’s so sad, we live in a world now where you have to say, I am so against cancer. ‘I just assumed you liked cancer.’ No, no, no, I am so against it. You have to state so many obvious things you’re against.”
open image in gallery
Chris Rock, and Jimmy Fallon's blackface impression of Rock in 2000 (Lisa O'Connor/Getty Images/NBC) In May, Fallon apologised for his “terrible decision” to don blackface, and thanked social media users for “holding me accountable”.
Weeks later, he claimed that he had been advised to not address the blackface scandal publicly , but had chosen to express his regret.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments