Saturday Night Live alum Victoria Jackson is shutting down recent reports claiming she “slammed” Tom Hanks‘ “Black Jeopardy” sketch at the 50th anniversary special, but she made it very clear that she still disagrees with it.
Jackson, who was part of the cast from 1986 to 1992 and attended the 50th anniversary special on Sunday (Feb. 16), addressed the reports in a video on social media.
“Apparently I slammed Tom Hanks,” she said in the video, referring to a recent TMZ report where she called his performance “stupid” and criticized SNL for coming after Trump supporters.
“Tom, I’m sorry if I slammed you,” she continued. “I didn’t slam you.”
As she explained it, TMZ reached out for her thoughts on the sketch, which she struggled to remember. When she was reminded of the “offensive” sketch in question, she told TMZ, “‘Oh, I remember that moment. That was horrible.’ I mean really, it’s not funny. MAGA Trump supporters, they’re not racist.”
SNL brought back the 2016 “Black Jeopardy” sketch for the anniversary special, with Hanks reprising his role as a man named Doug wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat on the game show. The recent sketch showed Hanks appearing skittish to shake Kenan Thompson‘s hand after he managed to answer some of the “Black Jeopardy” questions correctly.
“Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa,” he tells Thompson’s character in the sketch as he slowly backs away.
Jackson went on to defend “MAGA supporters,” saying they “deserve a safer America” and that “we love everybody.” She maintained TMZ “exaggerated” her responses, adding, “Comedy is exaggeration, journalism is not supposed to be exaggeration.”
Jackson also noted that she and Hanks exchanged pleasantries at the 50th anniversary special.
In the TMZ report, Jackson reportedly called out the SNL 50th anniversary special for taking aim at everyone but Democrats. “Did anyone make fun of the Kamala supporters?!” she asked the outlet.
The comedian also reportedly pointed to an X post from political commentator Link Lauren, saying it captured her feelings about the sketch.
The post in question read, “This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter. Trump won the popular vote… 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 sketch drew the ire from other conservatives, including Meghan McCain who said Hanks was “hate mongering.”
SNL50: The Anniversary Special is now streaming on Peacock.
