Tom Hanks has ignited considerable backlash from Trump supporters following his portrayal of a MAGA-wearing character named ‘Doug’ during the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live (SNL), which aired on February 16. The star-studded event featured Hollywood icons like Meryl Streep, Martin Short, and Jack Nicholson, but it was Hanks’ skit that became the focal point of controversy. In this sketch, Hanks reprised his role from a previous Black Jeopardy segment, this time donning a red Make America Great Again hat and engaging in a parody that underscored cultural and political divides.
The most contentious moment in the sketch came when Kenan Thompson, playing the host, extended his hand for a handshake. Hanks’ character hesitated before reluctantly accepting, ultimately delivering the line, “Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa. Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on and we’ll call it White Jeopardy.” This particular quip drew significant ire from viewers, especially among Trump supporters, who took to social media to voice their anger over the portrayal.
Critics expressed their discontent on Twitter, with one user remarking, “Tom Hanks went on SNL dressed like a slob mocking millions of Trump supporters—portraying them as dumb, racist, rednecks. Keep it up, libs. You’ll never win another election again.” Link Lauren, a former advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also weighed in, suggesting that Hanks’ portrayal perpetuated a tired stereotype of MAGA supporters as racist and accused SNL of catering to “snobbish liberal elites.”
The backlash continued as other users echoed similar frustrations, with comments highlighting the lack of laughter from the audience during Hanks’ performance and criticizing the skit for reinforcing negative stereotypes about Trump supporters. One user lamented, “This makes me mad. SNL ran a skit tonight w/Tom,” indicating that the portrayal resonated negatively with many viewers. As the controversy unfolds, it underscores the polarized nature of political discourse in entertainment and the challenges faced by shows like SNL in navigating sensitive cultural topics.
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