Twenty years ago, Jimmy Fallon found himself grappling with a regrettable episode from his early career, one that involved a racially insensitive skit he was part of.
In an attempt to fast-track his career, Fallon resorted to donning blackface, a choice that now has him desperately trying to extend his apologies to as many people as possible, acknowledging the harm it caused to the African-American community.
While Fallon has expressed remorse for his decision to use blackface as a means to make a humorous comment on race in America, his critics speculate that his career might be in jeopardy. The era of heightened political correctness during the Trump Administration has made people acutely conscious of comedians and actors with a tainted history involving racial insensitivity, such as blackface and other controversial situations.
Fallon is now on a mission to rectify his past actions and erase the memory of a regrettable incident in 2000 during his time on Saturday Night Live. However, he has only addressed his history of blackface after someone shared a clip of it on the internet. “In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to impersonate Chris Rock while wearing blackface. There is no excuse for this,” Fallon candidly admitted. The clip resurfaced on Twitter recently, leaving Fallon’s PR team scrambling to find the most appropriate way to address his racist past. The incident involved Fallon darkening his face while impersonating comedian Chris Rock.
Having reached the pinnacle of the entertainment world, Fallon now feels compelled to apologize for his use of blackface during his ascent to stardom. While he was willing to do whatever it took in 2000, including resorting to blackface for a laugh, he now faces significant risks if people do not swiftly forgive and forget his regrettable actions. Fallon wrote, “I am deeply sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and I thank all of you for holding me accountable.” However, it appears that true accountability has not yet been meted out, as Fallon retains his lucrative job and access to his vast fan base.
Critics and upset fans are now demanding Jimmy Fallon’s dismissal, advocating for the cancellation of his show due to his use of blackface despite his full awareness of its racist implications. When the blackface video of Jimmy Fallon resurfaced this week, one Twitter user juxtaposed it with a pointed comparison: “NBC fired Megan Kelly for merely mentioning blackface. Jimmy Fallon performed in blackface on NBC.”
Another individual remarked, “Megyn Kelly was let go for being insensitive in merely discussing kids wearing blackface on Halloween. Jimmy Fallon actually donned blackface while impersonating Chris Rock. And he’s still employed by NBC.”
Many insist that Jimmy Fallon should face the consequences of his actions. “I wish they’d realize that they have a 0% chance of actually canceling him, right? This incident happened 20 years ago and is far from career-ending,” commented one user.
What are your thoughts on whether Jimmy Fallon’s career should be terminated as a result of this incident?