Tom Hanks’ recent appearance on Saturday Night Live sparked strong reactions online, with some critics declaring, “This is why SNL is in the toilet.”
Hanks made a cameo during SNL’s 50th anniversary special, reprising his role as Doug in a Black Jeopardy segment. Doug, a folksy, conservative character sporting a MAGA hat, first appeared in 2016.
The sketch, a parody of the long-running game show Jeopardy!, featured Kenan Thompson as host Darnell Hayes. At one point, Doug remarked, “We wouldn’t be in this mess if more people went to church,” leading Thompson’s character to approach him for a handshake. Doug hesitated before awkwardly accepting.
Later, Doug quipped, “Maybe I’ll start a show for you—‘White Jeopardy.’” Thompson quickly responded, “We don’t need that.”
Following the skit, criticism flooded the internet. One person on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Tom Hanks showed up on the SNL 50th anniversary special wearing a Martial Arts hat and pretending not to want to shake a Black man’s hand. This is why SNL is in the toilet.”
Another commented, “It was a great skit—until Tom Hanks appeared.” Some even suggested that this role was hurting his career.
One user wrote, “Hanks played himself as an ignorant racist who refused to shake a Black man’s hand. Given the rumors about him, this is a shocking choice. He had no reason to alienate every Conservative in America.”
Despite the controversy, the performance of Eddie Murphy, who portrayed Tracy Morgan in the skit, received praise. Fans loved the meta moment, with one remarking, “Whoever came up with Eddie Murphy impersonating Tracy Morgan deserves a raise.”
Murphy, alongside Tracy Morgan and Leslie Jones, joined Thompson in one of the opening sketches of the three-hour SNL special. Chris Rock also made a brief appearance as a guest host.
Hanks first played Doug in 2016, and his character’s reluctance to shake hands was an improvised moment. Co-writer Bryan Tucker recalled Hanks telling him that Oprah Winfrey had called to discuss the sketch at the time, calling the moment “cool.”
