Tom Hanks’ latest visit to Saturday Night Live (SNL) set off some heated debates. People online are buzzing about his conservative character in a Black Jeopardy sketch.
Tom Hanks returns as Doug on Black Jeopardy
Hanks was back as Doug — a MAGA-hat-wearing guy with folksy, conservative vibes — during SNL’s 50th anniversary show.
RELATED STORIES
Kenan Thompson revived his popular Black Jeopardy sketch, and Hanks jumped in for a quick bit.
Doug’s church comment and handshake moment
Hanks, in character, said, “If more folks went to church, we wouldn’t be in this mess we’re in now.”
When Thompson, playing the host, went in for a handshake, Doug pulled back, saying, “Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa.”
Thompson replied, “It’s just a handshake,” and Doug hesitated but eventually shook his hand.
The awkward ‘White Jeopardy’ joke lands badly
Doug then joked, “Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on and we’ll call it ‘White Jeopardy.'” Thompson shut it down: “We don’t need it.”
Viewers slam the sketch on social media
Outrage flooded X: “Tom Hanks just came out on the SNL 50th anniversary special in a MAGA hat, acting like he didn’t want to shake a Black man’s hand.
“This is why SNL is in the toilet.” Another viewer said, “It was a great skit until Tom Hanks showed up.”
Accusations of racism dominate the conversation
Comments got heated: “No one in the audience laughs as Tom Hanks appears on SNL as a racist Trump supporter refusing to shake hands with a Black man.”
Someone else wrote, “It was rather disgusting. What a tool. What a disgrace @nbcsnl.”
Some say it was just satire
A few defended him: “Hanks portrayed himself as an ignorant racist — it’s satire. But still, this feels divisive.”
Another added, “Considering the rumors about Hanks, this felt random and unnecessary.”
Fallout for Hanks and SNL
Criticism piled up: “Not surprising no one watches SNL or NBC anymore.” Another chimed in, “This is also why his career is tanking.”
Black Jeopardy’s history of racial satire
Kenan Thompson, as host Darnell Hayes, has used Black Jeopardy to poke fun at racial stereotypes for years — a tradition that always sparks conversations, whether folks laugh or not.
So, whether it was clever satire or just bad taste, SNL and Hanks definitely stirred the pot with this one.
