I was surprised when the Tom Hanks SNL controversy erupted, particularly with Republican viewers upset over his latest sketch on the 50th anniversary show. The performance revisited Hanks’s “Black Jeopardy!” character, Doug, from a 2016 SNL episode—portrayed as a Donald Trump supporter wearing a MAGA hat. This time, the skit reignited debates on social media about political stereotypes and the limits of comedy.
Revisiting the Sketch
In the original Black Jeopardy! sketch, Doug—played by Tom Hanks—refused to shake host Darnell Hayes’s hand, portrayed by Kenan Thompson, and jokingly suggested a spin-off called White Jeopardy! The new anniversary tribute saw Hanks reprising the role, with Doug once again declining a handshake after answering correctly, awkwardly muttering, “Oh no no.” He then repeated his idea for a white-centric version of the show. This brief moment reignited the Tom Hanks SNL controversy, with Republican viewers feeling targeted.
Social Media Outrage
Some conservative fans took to social media to say Hanks mocked them and labeled them all as “slobs.” One user claimed the entire bit was a desperate attempt to poke fun at half the country. Another vowed to boycott Hanks’s films in the future. Critics argued that the reference to “White Jeopardy!” implied SNL was ridiculing millions of Americans. Despite the backlash, plenty of viewers saw it as standard political satire—especially given SNL’s long history of skewering current events. Even so, the Tom Hanks SNL controversy underscores how divisive political humor can be nowadays.
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