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Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bill Maher criticizes SNL writers for portrayal of Trump supporters
Bill Maher believes a Saturday Night Live sketch starring Tom Hanks was an example of out-of-touch, liberal writers telling a 'zombie lie' about Donald Trump's supporters. The comic, who often critiques both sides of the aisle on his weekly HBO show, took to his podcast with Jillian Michaels to slam a bit that aired during SNL's 50th anniversary special in February. Hanks made a return in the show as Doug, a clueless rube who dons a Make America Great Again hat and performs surprisingly well on a mock game show called Black Jeopardy. Hanks first appeared as Doug on Black Jeopardy! in 2016 in an effort to depict both the differences and similarities between Trump voters and black culture. However, Maher joined the countless others who took offense at the show's portrayal of a MAGA voter, after Michaels said that while Hanks is 'lovely' in person, the sketch crossed a line. 'I hated it too, and I said it on my show. I know. I hated it. Wearing the MAGA hat, not shaking hands with a Black person. And that's when I thought, 'You people don't know MAGA people,' Maher said. 'I mean, they have their issues and I certainly have my issues with them, but they're general - I mean, of course, there's some racists everywhere who are that bad, but generally, all the MAGA people I know have no problem shaking hands with a Black person.' He described the writers of the sketch as 'hysterical' and 'not helping' their left-leaning causes and accused them of spreading a 'zombie lie,' or passing off old, outdated conventional wisdom as the truth. 'It's a lie that MAGA people won't shake hands with - I get it, it's part of a skit, and it's exaggeration, and that's comedy. It's a little too delicate a subject to just make - to go there for that one,' Maher said. He added that, while sometimes, comedians will make a joke that they regret, the writers of the sketch likely have no issue with what they said. 'You know, look, we all in comedy step over the line sometimes or do one that they want to take back. I doubt if they want to take that one back. I think they probably think it's great,' he told Michaels. He was also offended because, 'as a liberal,' Maher believes that the premise to a joke has to have some sort of truth. 'It might have rang true, I don't know, X years ago. It doesn't now. So, you know - but that's where we are. Everybody has to just play the hate card, because that's what gets clicks. That's what gets you loved by your side,' he added. Hanks' character was brought back for the 50th anniversary of the NBC staple , which included comedy sketches from A-listers and SNL alums including Eddie Murphy , Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, David Spade and Jon Lovitz. But, as MAGA fans pointed out, President Trump has since won over a diverse electorate and secured the popular vote - turning Doug into an outdated stereotype. In the new version of the sketch, Doug vehemently refused to shake hands with host Darnell Hayes played by Kenan Thompson. Afterward, Trump fans blasted SNL and the 'Forrest Gump' star for what they viewed as an unfair portrayal. Former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren called the character 'disgusting' and accused SNL of pushing a tired, divisive narrative. 'This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter,' he wrote. 'Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.' His sentiments were echoed by other Trump supporters who flooded social media with criticism of the sketch. Right-wing influencer Dominick McGee took direct aim at Hanks, accusing him of 'just disrespecting every Republican on SNL as he was dressed up as a Trump supporter with a MAGA hat.' Another critic pointed out what they saw as an awkward silence during the sketch, writing, 'No one in the audience laughs as Tom Hanks appears on SNL as a racist Trump supporter that refuses to shake hands with a Black man.' Trump supporters also used the moment to highlight what they claim is SNL's declining viewership . One Trump fan account wrote, 'Tom Hanks and SNL thought it would be hilarious for him to put on a MAGA hat and act out a stereotype of half the country in a desperate attempt to cope with Democrats' crushing defeat in November. Not surprising no one watches SNL or NBC anymore.' During the rest of the three-and-a-half hour broadcast - featuring everyone from Cher to Bad Bunny , Adam Sandler and Scarlett Johansson - the star-studded cast could not help but take cheap shots at Trump. In another sketch that poked fun at 50 years of drastic changes in New York City , the cast performed a parody of famous show tune I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. 'I dreamed a dream that King Kong died, then I remembered he's in Florida,' sung one cast member, in a thinly veiled swipe at the president who left Manhattan after his first term. The special celebrating 50 years on air poked fun at the Trump administration throughout.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bill Maher calls out SNL's liberal writers for spreading 'zombie lie' about Trump supporters
Bill Maher believes a Saturday Night Live sketch starring Tom Hanks was an example of out-of-touch, liberal writers telling a 'zombie lie' about Donald Trump 's supporters. The comic, who often critiques both sides of the aisle on his weekly HBO show, took to his podcast with Jillian Michaels to slam a bit that aired during SNL's 50th anniversary special in February. Hanks made a return in the show as Doug, a clueless rube who dons a Make America Great Again hat and performs surprisingly well on a mock game show called Black Jeopardy. Hanks first appeared as Doug on Black Jeopardy! in 2016 in an effort to depict both the differences and similarities between Trump voters and black culture. However, Maher joined the countless others who took offense at the show's portrayal of a MAGA voter, after Michaels said that while Hanks is 'lovely' in person, the sketch crossed a line. 'I hated it too, and I said it on my show. I know. I hated it. Wearing the MAGA hat, not shaking hands with a Black person. And that's when I thought, 'You people don't know MAGA people,' Maher said. 'I mean, they have their issues and I certainly have my issues with them, but they're general - I mean, of course, there's some racists everywhere who are that bad, but generally, all the MAGA people I know have no problem shaking hands with a Black person.' He described the writers of the sketch as 'hysterical' and 'not helping' their left-leaning causes and accused them of spreading a 'zombie lie,' or passing off old, outdated conventional wisdom as the truth. 'It's a lie that MAGA people won't shake hands with - I get it, it's part of a skit, and it's exaggeration, and that's comedy. It's a little too delicate a subject to just make - to go there for that one,' Maher said. He added that, while sometimes, comedians will make a joke that they regret, the writers of the sketch likely have no issue with what they said. 'You know, look, we all in comedy step over the line sometimes or do one that they want to take back. I doubt if they want to take that one back. I think they probably think it's great,' he told Michaels. He was also offended because, 'as a liberal,' Maher believes that the premise to a joke has to have some sort of truth. 'It might have rang true, I don't know, X years ago. It doesn't now. So, you know - but that's where we are. Everybody has to just play the hate card, because that's what gets clicks. That's what gets you loved by your side,' he added. Hanks' character was brought back for the 50th anniversary of the NBC staple, which included comedy sketches from A-listers and SNL alums including Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, David Spade and Jon Lovitz. But, as MAGA fans pointed out, President Trump has since won over a diverse electorate and secured the popular vote - turning Doug into an outdated stereotype. In the new version of the sketch, Doug vehemently refused to shake hands with host Darnell Hayes played by Kenan Thompson. Afterward, Trump fans blasted SNL and the 'Forrest Gump' star for what they viewed as an unfair portrayal. Former Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aide Link Lauren called the character 'disgusting' and accused SNL of pushing a tired, divisive narrative. 'This show wonders why their ratings are in the gutter,' he wrote. 'Trump won the popular vote. This tired trope that MAGA is racist is disgusting. SNL is an unfunny show for snobbish liberal elites.' His sentiments were echoed by other Trump supporters who flooded social media with criticism of the sketch. Right-wing influencer Dominick McGee took direct aim at Hanks, accusing him of 'just disrespecting every Republican on SNL as he was dressed up as a Trump supporter with a MAGA hat.' Another critic pointed out what they saw as an awkward silence during the sketch, writing, 'No one in the audience laughs as Tom Hanks appears on SNL as a racist Trump supporter that refuses to shake hands with a Black man.' Trump supporters also used the moment to highlight what they claim is SNL's declining viewership. One Trump fan account wrote, 'Tom Hanks and SNL thought it would be hilarious for him to put on a MAGA hat and act out a stereotype of half the country in a desperate attempt to cope with Democrats' crushing defeat in November. Not surprising no one watches SNL or NBC anymore.' During the rest of the three-and-a-half hour broadcast - featuring everyone from Cher to Bad Bunny, Adam Sandler and Scarlett Johansson - the star-studded cast could not help but take cheap shots at Trump. In another sketch that poked fun at 50 years of drastic changes in New York City, the cast performed a parody of famous show tune I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. 'I dreamed a dream that King Kong died, then I remembered he's in Florida,' sung one cast member, in a thinly veiled swipe at the president who left Manhattan after his first term. The special celebrating 50 years on air poked fun at the Trump administration throughout.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill Maher Stunned by Don Lemon Calling Trump Fans ‘Really F***ing Racist'
Don Lemon managed to shock Bill Maher, as he characterized a 'huge faction of the MAGA movement' as 'really f---ing racist.' In a new episode of Maher's Club Random podcast, Lemon explained his view and shared several other thoughts about MAGA and race, as they discussed SNL50's controversial 'Black Jeopardy' sketch. Maher took issue with the part of the sketch where Tom Hanks' character was scared to shake hands with the 'Black Jeopardy' host (Kenan Thompson). 'It's just not helpful to think that half the country, that's where they are,' Maher said. 'I get all the bad things about that administration, but if you think they don't shake black people's hands, it's just, you're wrong.' Lemon disagreed that the sketch didn't capture something genuine about the MAGA movement. 'Part of it is comedy,' the former CNN host said, but it's also 'honest.' As Maher again argued that not much of MAGA is racist, Lemon replied, 'I would say 'huge,'' numbers are. 'Even if they're not, you have to overlook a lot of that in order to support Donald Trump, which I think is maybe even more egregious than just saying, 'I'm a racist.'' Maher conceded that Trump himself has exhibited racist behavior, citing his attacks on the Exonerated Five or on Barack Obama over his birth certificate. 'I understand that element to it,' Maher said, but 'ascribing his worst traits to all' his voters is unfair. Especially since, he added, that's 'at least half the country.' Lemon doubled down on his point. 'I don't think half the country is racist,' he continued, 'and I don't think all of MAGA is racist. But I do think that there's a huge element in the MAGA party that is racist—whether they are, whether they are conscious of it or not.' As for MAGA supporters who aren't, Lemon said they aren't much better in his eyes. 'Some of them are not. And if they are not, they have had to overlook a lot of racism and a lot of bigotry,' he said. 'And if you do that and you say, 'I'm OK with this,' that I think that makes you worse than someone who just says, 'Hey, I'm a racist.''
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tom Hanks should sue Elon Musk and an Arizona official for libel
A member of the Avondale City Council embraced her inner QAnon and accused Tom Hanks of pedophilia. Then came the payoff. Elon Musk reposted her accusation to his 218 million followers. As my colleague EJ Montini observed, Hanks burrowed under the exceedingly thin skin of the MAGA Nation while reprising his 2016 role as 'Doug the conservative voter' during the 'Black Jeopardy' skit on Sunday's 'Saturday Night Live' 50th anniversary special. Dressed in a denim shirt and rocking a red MAGA hat, Hanks affected a southern accent and somewhat reluctantly shook the hand of game show host Kenan Thompson, who is Black. The MAGA crowd came unhinged … some more than others. And in Arizona, Avondale Councilwoman Jeannette Garcia actually accused Hanks of engaging in sex with children — or at least fantasizing about it. 'Hey pedo .@Tom Hanks, Not all MAGA hat wearing patriots are white. In fact, most racism comes from the elite Democrats, you a** hole,' she raved on X, formerly Twitter. Garcia was apparently referring to a QAnon conspiracy theory that Tom Hanks became a citizen of Greece during the pandemic and thus must be a pedophile. The theory is based upon a fantastical (and incorrect) claim that Greece classifies pedophilia as a disability. Crazy, sure. But we're talking QAnon. These are people who see Donald Trump as a messiah and Democrats as a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles who sex-traffic children from the basement of a Washington, D.C., pizza parlor that has no basement. After hurling her vile accusation into the public square that is social media — while rocking a cross around her neck, no less — the pride of Avondale immediately proclaimed her victimhood when she got pushback. Garcia claims someone threatened to abduct her child and said she is now in fear for both her own and her son's life. If true, the police certainly should investigate. But let's not lose sight of the real victim here: Tom Hanks. This public official accused him of being a pedophile. Then the accusation was amplified by Elon Musk, who passed it along to hundreds of millions of people. Opinion: What exactly are anti-Trump protesters against? Nobody will believe it, you say? Well, with nothing more than a tweet, Musk convinced the MAGA Nation that Social Security is sending checks to hundreds of millions of 150-year-olds. Really, is it a stretch that hundreds of millions of people will now absolutely believe that Tom Hanks craves sex with children? By Thursday afternoon, Garcia was in full-blown backpedal mode. 'You know the word Pedo in Spanish means fart,' she said in reply to my column. 'But thank you for bringing awareness to the second half of the post which is true.' It took her five days to come up with that. Here in the real world, it appears that an elected official in Avondale, Ariz., without a shred of evidence to back up her claim, defamed Hanks in one of the vilest ways possible because she was offended by a comedy skit. And the second most powerful man in America made sure her accusation was heard far and wide. Garcia was clearly thrilled that all of America saw her potentially libelous claim. 'Hey! That's me,' she said on Monday, with emojis applauding Musk's repost of her accusation. 'Thank you @elonmusk for sharing and showing the world #MAGA.' Mission accomplished, Councilwoman Garcia. You showed the world MAGA. Tom Hanks should sue. Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tom Hanks is a pedophile? If Elon Musk reposts it, then ... | Opinion
The Hill
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Megyn Kelly rips Tom Hanks over SNL ‘Black Jeopardy' skit: ‘Shame on you'
Megyn Kelly is slamming Tom Hanks for his portrayal of a President Trump supporter on last weekend's 'Saturday Night Live' special. The 'Forrest Gump' star reprised his role as Doug, a Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat-wearing Trump voter, on Sunday's NBC special marking 'Saturday Night Live's' 50 th anniversary. In a sketch called 'Black Jeopardy,' Hanks's character initially declines to shake the hand of the faux game show's host, played by Kenan Thompson. 'It's just a handshake. You're welcome at 'Black Jeopardy' anytime,' Thompson's character tells Hanks as the two finally two shake hands. 'The veil was down, and we saw what they really think of all of us, not just MAGA, but anybody on the right: They think you're a racist,' Kelly, a former Fox News and NBC host, said in a Wednesday interview with Sky News. ''Saturday Night Live' hates conservatives. NBC hates conservatives,' the 'Megyn Kelly Show' podcast host said. 'They tried to reel us in by just doing regular comedy that could appeal to anybody like, 'See, we're so fun. We've got all these big stars so we're toeing the line, and we're going to make everybody love us and you can trust us. We're not going to be too political,'' Kelly said of the NBC sketch comedy show's approach. 'Then the veil slipped, and it slipped because that's who they really are. And no one there thought there'd be a problem with that skit with Tom Hanks? No one said, 'Oh, God, is this beyond? Should we not?' Because it's all the same left-wing echo chamber,' the conservative media personality said. Kelly, who spoke last year at a campaign rally for Trump, also ripped Hanks, who she described as one of 'the most beloved actors ever' for the Academy Award winner's portrayal of a supporter of the 47th president. 'In thanks to a nation of audiences that included those guys who look like that — with the T-shirt without the sleeves, that are maybe a little rough around the edges, who aren't as coiffed as he is with the perfect three-quarter zip sweater with their MAGA hat on, and yeah, Tom Hanks, their Southern rural accent, you absolute effing snob — went to your movies and made you a billionaire,' Kelly said. 'And your thanks to them is to mock and belittle them in the two minutes you had to portray what they might be like,' she said, 'Shame on you.'
