Jimmy Fallon apologises for wearing ‘terrible and offensive’ blackface on SNL

Clips of the TV host impersonating comedian Chris Rock were circulated online this week

Wednesday 27 May 2020 07:20 BST

Jimmy Kimmel wearing blackface in 2000 SNL sketch

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Jimmy Fallon has apologised for wearing blackface in an SNL sketch from 2000, after footage of him was resurfaced online this week.

In the clip, which was circulated on Twitter with the hashtag #JimmyFallonIsOverParty, Fallon can be seen impersonating the comedian Chris Rock.

Many people took to Twitter to accuse Fallon of racism and demand an apology from the TV host.

On Tuesday (26 May), Fallon 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.”

Some Twitter users also called out other stars who have previously worn blackface, including Robert Downey Jr in the 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder, Jimmy Kimmel in a sketch on The Man Show in 2000 and Sarah Silverman in a 2007 episode of The Sarah Silverman Show.

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Jimmy Fallon apologises for wearing ‘terrible and offensive’ blackface on SNL

Clips of the TV host impersonating comedian Chris Rock were circulated online this week

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