Register

    Jimmy Fallon apologizes for using blackface in 20-year-old skit

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1019 Views
    In this April 20, 2017 photo released by NBC, Jimmy Fallon, host of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," appears during a taping of his show in New York. Fallon has apologized for doing an impersonation of fellow comic Chris Rock while in blackface during a 2000 episode of “Saturday Night Live.” Fallon tweeted on Tuesday that “there is no excuse for this.” Discussion of Fallon’s 20-year-old skit surfaced this week after a video of it was posted online. (Andrew Lipovsky/NBC via AP)
    NEW YORK (AP) --

    NBC "Tonight" show host Jimmy Fallon has apologized for doing an impersonation of fellow comic Chris Rock while in blackface during a 2000 episode of "Saturday Night Live."

    Fallon tweeted on Tuesday that "there is no excuse for this."

    Discussion of Fallon's 20-year-old skit surfaced this week after a video of it was posted online. According to Variety, it was first posted on Twitter by a user named "chefboyohdear," and showed Fallon, as Rock, appearing on a talk show.

    Fallon tweeted that it was a terrible decision to impersonate Rock, also a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member.

    "I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable," the late-night star wrote.

    The Twitter user who posted the clip mentioned Megyn Kelly, who was taken off the "Today" show and eventually left NBC News after suggesting in 2018 that it was OK for children to wear blackface in Halloween costumes. She apologized for her remark.

    The history of minstrel shows and movies where white performers donned blackface to mock blacks has made its use considered offensive today.

    Another late-night comic, Jimmy Kimmel, wore blackface to impersonate basketball star Karl Malone while on Comedy Central's "The Man Show" 20 years ago. Sarah Silverman used blackface for a sketch on her Comedy Central show in 2007, a decision she later said she was "horrified" by.

    Tags:blackfaceJimmy Fallon



    DirecTV calls off acquisition of rival Dish, possibly ending a yearslong pursuit

    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Dish Network satellite dishes are shown at an apartment complex in Palo Alto, Calif., Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

    DirecTV is calling off its planned acquisition of rival Dish after the offer was rejected by bond holders at that company.

    The deal was reliant on Dish bond holders agreeing to trade in the debt they held for debt in the new company, a swap that would have cost them about $1.6 billion, collectively.

    The retreat by DirecTV this week may end a years-long effort by the company to acquire both Dish and Sling after it announced the bid in September.

    DirecTV was looking to acquire Dish TV and Sling TV from its owner EchoStar in a debt exchange transaction that included a payment of $1, plus the assumption of approximately $9.8 billion in debt. The deal was contingent on several factors, including regulatory approvals and bondholders writing off debt related to Dish.

    "While we believed a combination of DirecTV and Dish would have benefited all stakeholders, we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a statement.

    The prospect of a DirecTV-Dish combo has long been rumored, and reported talks resurfaced over the years. And the two almost merged more than two decades ago — but the Federal Communications Commission blocked the deal valued at the time at $18.5 billion deal, citing antitrust concerns.

    The pay-for-TV market has shifted significantly since. As more and more consumers tune into online streaming platforms, demand for more traditional satellite entertainment continues to shrink.

    DirecTV says that it will continue to invest in next-generation streaming platforms and offer new packaging options while integrating content from live TV alongside direct-to-consumer... Read More

    MySHOOT Profiles


    Add A Comment