Jimmy Kimmel has apologized for old skits in which he parodies African-American celebrities.
Late night host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel (52, "The Serious Goose") has apologized for his old parodies of African American celebrities. The presenter mimicked the former professional basketball player Karl Malone (56) with black make-up on his face for his television program "The Man Show" (1999 to 2004). After the old sketches reappeared, Kimmel was accused of racism.
"We hired make-up artists back then who should make me look as much as possible like Karl Malone. I never thought that this could be seen as something other than an imitation of a fellow human being," said Kimmel in a long statement , from which the US site "People" is quoted. In retrospect, these skits were embarrassing to him and it would frustrate him that these "thoughtless moments have become a weapon with which some want to alleviate my criticism of social and other injustices".
"Matured and developed"
He was convinced that he had matured in the past twenty years and that he had developed further, said Kimmel. However, he knew that this would not be the last time these old skits would be used to silence him: "I love this country too much to allow that. I will not let them silence me , only pretending to be outraged to advance their suppressive and truly racist agenda. " Kimmel is considered a keen critic of US President Donald Trump (74).
Kimmel also apologized to those people who were really hurt by his words.
His friend Jimmy Fallon is also criticized
Kimmel is not the only comedian to face similar criticism in the wake of the racism debate in the United States. Late night talker Jimmy Fallon (45) had come under fire after a 20-year-old sktch surfaced by parodying Afro-American comedian Chris Rock (55).
Fallon, otherwise considered a tame tidy man in the late night industry, apologized as follows: "In 2000, while I was at 'SNL', I made a terrible decision and parodied Chris Rock with black makeup on my face There is no excuse for this. I deeply regret this decision, which is without a doubt offensive, and thank you all for making me responsible. "