Jimmy Fallon has made a public apology online after a resurfaced clip of him performing in blackface while impersonating fellow comedian Chris Rock prompted outrage.
The sketch was from an episode of Saturday Night Live that aired in 2000, when Fallon and Rock were castmates on the show.
Fallon called the move a "terrible decision" and thanked the public for "holding him accountable" after the hashtag #Jimmyfallonisoverparty gained traction on Twitter in a bid to see the late-night talk show host "cancelled".
"This is making my heart hurt," one Twitter user responded to the clip online.
"That's plain disgusting. I don't see how someone can get off on demeaning and dehumanizing an entire race like that but I'm sure he unabashedly chalks this up as a fine tally in his long comedy career."
In addressing the controversy, Fallon said there was "no excuse" for what he did.
"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," the Tonight Show host wrote on Twitter.
"I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable."
Fallon reprised his Chris Rock impression as recently as 2017, where he worked the routine into his hosting duties at the Golden Globes - but this time without any face paint.
