Jimmy Fallon apologises for wearing blackface in SNL sketch 20 years ago

Jimmy Fallon has apologised for wearing blackface in a Saturday Night Live sketch 20 years ago.

The talk show host faced a furious backlash online after the clip from 200 resurfaced on social media.

In the video, Fallon can be seen doing blackface as he impersonates comedian and actor Chris Rock.

The Tonight Show host, 45, has since apologised for his actions in a statement on Twitter.

In the message to his followers, Fallon wrote: "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."

Fallon added: "I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable."

The blackface clip went viral on Twitter this week and it had left Fallon facing a barrage of abuse.

The sketch features Darrell Hammond with Fallon seen impersonating Chris Rock while wearing dark brown makeup and a wig.

In the fallout that followed, the hashtag #JimmyFallonIsOverParty began trending with fans calling out Fallon as racist for his part in the sketch.

One Twitter user wrote: "I'm sorry but this is my first time ever seeing this [and] this is making my heart hurt."

Another tweeted: "No one is asking y'all to cancel @JimmyFallon. However, what we are asking from Jimmy is an acknowledgement to his use of blackface, why did he do it an an apology to black people for donning such a racist, oppressive and downright disgusting overt display of symbolic racism."

TV show SNL was also called out for its part in the scandalous skit.

One Twitter user pointed out: "So how are we gonna cancel Jimmy Fallon for doing blackface but not cancel Saturday Night Live for letting him do that."

Producers of SNL have not commented about the resurfacing of the decades old sketch.

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