Jamie Foxx defends Jimmy Fallon over SNL blackface backlash
by Nola OjomuJamie Foxx has leapt to the defence of fellow comedian Jimmy Fallon after widespread backlash over an unearthed blackface video.
Fallon, who is now a popular late-night TV host, came under fire when an old Saturday Night Live clip of him impressonating Chris Rock resurfaced online
The 2000 sketch saw Jimmy in ‘blackface’ and caused outrage among Twitter users.
However, Jamie claimed that Jimmy did not deserve to be attacked for the skit as he commented on an Instagram post.
The Ray star wrote: ‘He was doing an impression of Chris Rock. It wasn’t black face.
‘We comedians I know it’s a tough time right now. But this one is a stretch. (sic)’
The Oscar winner continued: ‘On a show called in living color we played every race. Let this one go. We got bigger fish to fry … #changecourse.’
It comes after Jimmy apologised in a tweet which read: ‘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.’
One unimpressed viewer had tweeted: ‘People are ACTUALLY defending jimmy Fallon for doing black face saying “he was doing a skit, it was a impersonation” I just don’t have any faith in this world anymore… how could you be so brain dead! You guys don’t even know the definition of blackface.’
Another added: ‘Jimmy Fallon doing blackface why is impersonating black ppl so funny back in the day I hate it here.’
One more simply added: ‘Not Jimmy Fallon in blackface’.
It’s not the first time the video has circulated the internet, with Nick Cannon previously slamming the Tonight Show host, along with the likes of Jimmy Kimmel, for using blackface in previous years.
Nick shared a compilation of footage and wrote: ‘Are these your Kings of Late Night???
‘@JimmyFallon @JimmyKimmel you know I’m always on the side of the comedian and never pander to the sensitive, but I feel there needs to be some “truth & reconciliation” discussions and teachable moments amongst our communities.
‘I’m ready and willing for the discourse, so who wants to step up to the table first? In the meantime, I’ll just leave this right here. Tell the Jimmys to holla at me!’
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