Bill Maher has criticized “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) for a sketch that he believes unfairly depicts supporters of President Donald Trump as racists. The sketch, part of SNL’s 50th-anniversary special, featured Tom Hanks reprising his role as “Doug” from the “Black Jeopardy!” segment. In the skit, Doug, wearing a MAGA hat, refuses to shake hands with the Black host, implying racial prejudice.
On his “Club Random” podcast, Maher expressed his disapproval, stating, “I hated it.” He argued that the portrayal was a misrepresentation of Trump supporters, asserting that while some individuals may hold racist views, it is inaccurate to generalize all supporters in this manner. Maher emphasized that such depictions contribute to political divisiveness and rely on false premises.
Maher further commented, “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 criticized the sketch for being “hysterical” and not reflective of the reality of many Trump supporters.
The sketch has also faced backlash from conservative commentators and former SNL cast members. Critics have labeled the skit as disrespectful and outdated, especially in light of President Trump’s recent electoral success, which included increased support from minority voters. Former SNL cast member Victoria Jackson accused the show of maintaining an unfair liberal bias and failing to evolve its humor.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions in media portrayals of political groups and the challenges of balancing satire with fair representation.
