Jamie Foxx Defends Jimmy Fallon Against Blackface Controversy: ‘Let This One Go’

Jamie Foxx defended fellow comedian Jimmy Fallon from the backlash he received after a video of his blackface sketch, which happened two decades ago, recently surfaced online.

Fallon was trending on Tuesday (May 26) after a video of an “Saturday Night Live” sketch he did in 2000 resurfaced. In the clip, the “Tonight Show” host could be seen wearing dark makeup all over his face and hands while impersonating Chris Rock for a parody of Regis Philbin’s late-night show.

However, Foxx, who is also a comedian, didn’t find it offensive. For him, it shouldn’t be classified as blackface.

“He was doing an impression of Chris Rock. It wasn’t black face [sic],” Foxx commented on E! News’ Instagram post about the matter, according to Us Weekly.

“We comedians, I know it’s a tough time right now. But this one is a stretch. On a show called In Living Color we played every race. Let this one go. We got bigger fish to fry … #changecourse.”

Meanwhile, unlike Foxx, Nick Cannon wasn’t pleased with the controversial host. In 2019, he shared clips of Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel impersonating black celebrities on Instagram.

“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,” Cannon wrote in the caption.

He added that he was willing to engage in a discourse. He even asked who among the two was willing to step up to the table first and added that he would just leave it there.

Meanwhile, Fallon admitted that he made a bad decision 20 years ago when he did the sketch. The host and comedian issued an apology on Twitter to clear the matter.

“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 wrote.

“I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable.”

Several netizens extended their sympathy to Fallon. One said that it happened 20 years ago and people didn’t speak and think in the same way as they do now. The Twitter user added that two decades ago, she also thought breastmilk was the only form of nutrition and she was wrong. She added that cancel culture should chill out.

“People need to chill about everything right now we're so quick to apply intentions to the most trivial stuff. If you don't offend anyone it isn't comedy,” Graham Carter wrote while defending Fallon.