What Do We Do With Jimmy Fallon?

“In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface. There is no excuse for this,” Fallon wrote on Twitter. “I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable.”

Today, the hashtag #JimmyFallonIsOverParty is being floated with social media users calling for him to be cancelled for his impersonation. Some are making parallels to Megyn Kelly being cancelled for defending blackface costumes during Halloween.

We’ve seen this movie before and we will certainly see it again. Such are certainties in a time when quotes and videos are never fully hidden from view even as people and organizations do their darndest to bury them. The question is, should Fallon be cancelled and if so, why?

This is a difficult question at best, one that introduces plain truths, contextual blurs and a fundamental approach to consistency of character.

Plain Truth: Blackface is offensive regardless of the comedic bent and intent around its use. There was a time when non-black performers used it to present an unflattering caricature of a black person. What is more, the use of blackface in the theater was at a time when racism, slavery, segregation, and discrimination were par for the legal course. As such, the portrayal was not…