Hanks’ SNL skit aired as part of the show’s 50th-anniversary celebration…
Tom Hanks has stirred up a wave of backlash from Trump supporters after his portrayal of the MAGA-wearing character ‘Doug’ in the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live.
The star-studded event, which aired on Sunday (February 16), brought together some of Hollywood’s biggest names to mark SNL’s five decades on air.
With appearances from legends like Meryl Streep, Martin Short, Jack Nicholson, and Aubrey Plaza, the celebration was packed with familiar faces.
But Hanks’ involvement in one particular skit has triggered a heated response online.
During the special, Hanks made a return as Doug, a character he first played in a Black Jeopardy skit years ago.
This time, however, the sketch did not sit well with many Trump supporters.
Wearing a red Make America Great Again hat, Hanks’ character participated in the game show parody, which poked fun at cultural and political differences.
The scene that sparked the most outrage involved a handshake—or lack thereof.
In the skit, Kenan Thompson, playing the show’s host, extended his hand to Doug, but Hanks’ character hesitated before reluctantly shaking it.
After finally going through with it, Doug quipped: “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.”
The moment didn’t sit well with a lot of viewers, particularly Trump supporters, who took to Twitter to share their anger over the portrayal.
One person wrote: “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 on the controversy, saying: “Tom Hanks just came out on SNL in a MAGA hat for a bit where he acted like he didn’t want to shake a black man’s hand. This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter.
“Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites. The current Republican Party is a big tent coalition compromised of many former Democrats. Good riddance, SNL!”
The skit has faced backlash
Another Trump supporter voiced their frustration, commenting: “No one in the audience laughs as Tom Hanks appears on SNL as a racist Trump supporter that refuses to shake hands with a black man.”
Meanwhile, a different user shared their anger, stating: “This makes me mad. SNL ran a skit tonight w/Tom Hanks as a MAGA racist…he literally recoils when a black game show host reaches to shake hands.”