Tom Hanks’ Controversial ‘Black Jeopardy!’ Sketch Divides ‘The View’
Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a Trump-supporting character in the ‘Black Jeopardy!’ sketch that aired during ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ 50th-anniversary special sparked a heated debate among the hosts of ‘The View.’
Joy Behar’s Criticism:
"The fact remains that they’re making anyone who voted for Trump look like a racist, and that’s why they’re mad," said Joy Behar. She argued that such caricatures perpetuate harmful stereotypes and alienate a large segment of the population.
Sunny Hostin’s Defense:
Sunny Hostin countered that the sketch was "a very subversive sketch, in fact; it’s about Black culture being American culture." She praised the sketch for its clever commentary on race and identity.
Alyssa Farah Griffin’s Skepticism:
Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official, downplayed the controversy, saying, "the outrage over it is a little overblown." She suggested that the reaction was motivated more by partisan politics than genuine offense.
Whoopi Goldberg’s Perspective:
Whoopi Goldberg noted that the backlash was directed primarily at a caricature that has appeared on the show before, specifically Hanks’ character Doug, who debuted in 2016 shortly before Trump’s first presidential election victory.
Origin and Evolution of the Sketch:
‘Black Jeopardy!’ was created by Michael Che and Bryan Tucker and made its first appearance on ‘SNL’ in 2014. The sketch features contestants of color answering questions about African American culture and history.
In the 2016 sketch, Hanks’ character Doug wore a MAGA hat and spoke with a Southern drawl. Despite his outward appearance, he surprisingly knew as much about Black culture as his fellow contestants.
According to Tucker, the inspiration for the character came from observing similarities between certain conservative and Black perspectives.
The Punchline and Its Aftermath:
In the ‘SNL50’ version of the sketch, Doug suggested creating a spin-off called ‘White Jeopardy!’ This proposal was met with resistance from the other contestants, who argued that such a show was unnecessary.
The reference to ‘White Jeopardy!’ echoed the conclusion of the original sketch, where Doug initially recoiled from a handshake with the Black host, Darnell. Hanks improvised this gesture, and Thompson responded with an impromptu embrace.
External Reactions:
Meghan McCain, former co-host of ‘The View,’ expressed outrage at Hanks’ character, accusing him of promoting hate speech against Trump supporters.
Critics have also weighed in, questioning whether the sketch effectively satirizes or simply perpetuates stereotypes.
Conclusion:
The ‘Black Jeopardy!’ sketch has provoked strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. The debate highlights the complexities of race, humor, and cultural representation in America. While some believe the sketch is a clever critique of race relations, others find it offensive and divisive.
