Tom Hanks Sparks Outrage Among Trump Supporters With Controversial SNL Skit
By fypfeed.in Movies & TV On 18th February 2025
Tom Hanks has unexpectedly found himself in the middle of political debate after he revived one of his previous Saturday Night Live characters during the event’s 50th anniversary.
Two-time Oscar winner made his return to SNL’s stage SNL scene on the 16th of February participating in an exclusive sketch that quickly was the focus of a plethora of viewers. Although the show was a star-studded ode to the past 50 years of comedy however, it was Hanks performance of his MAGA-loving”Doug” character “Doug” that lit up social media and ignited angry reactions from all sides of all political lines.
For a lot of Trump fans, the show crossed an undefined line. They have accused the actor and the show of mocking them for being ignorant and racist. They also accused the show of being insensitive.
The Return of “Doug”
Hanks initially created the character “Doug” back in 2016 in the Black Jeopardy parody sketch where his MAGA wearing hat enticed viewers by revealing the same ground with Black contestants on their everyday struggles. This sketch was one of the more popular sketch sketches on politics of the last decade.
Fast forward to 2025 and SNL producers made the decision that they would bring Doug back to celebrate the 50th anniversary. However, this time the tone was different.
Hanks was seen again wearing that Red “Make America Great Again” cap, sporting the same simple outfit and heavy Southern accent that characterized his persona a few many years ago. The scene was created as a second spoof game show scene, but instead of highlighting shared experiences it played heavily into the political and cultural rifts.
The Handshake Moment
The dispute was over an explosive, but brief moment in the sketch.
Kenan Thompson, returning to his role as host of the game show and host of the game show, extended his hand towards Doug in an act of camaraderie. Instead of shaking it immediately, Hanks’ character recoiled uncomfortably before resolving to go through the handshake.
Then the line was released that sparked a blaze on the internet:
“Don’t like this, whoa and whoa. Maybe I’ll make an game for your to participate on, and we’ll call the show “White Jeopardy.”
The studio audience in Studio 8H was arousing with nervous laughter The online response was much less tolerant.
Trump Supporters Push Back
After a few minutes of show being shown, social media was were flooded with complaints especially those from Trump followers who thought that the depiction of them as racist cartoons.
One viewer who was furious said:
“Tom Hanks appeared on SNL dressed as an a**hole, mocking millions of Trump supporters and portraying them as ignorant, racist rednecks. Keep up the good work libs. You’ll never win a single election ever again.”
One user complained:
“This makes me angry. SNL performed a skit on tonight with Tom Hanks playing the MAGA anti-racist… He literally screams when an Black Game Show host attempts for a handshake.”
Some critics went farther, arguing that the show was not a comedy than it was political propaganda.
Link Lauren, a former advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Also, Link Lauren weighed in:
“Tom Hanks recently appeared on SNL wearing the MAGA costume for a few minutes where he behaved as if was not interested in shaking the hand of a Black guy’s hands. The show has a reason to wonder what is the reason their ratings are in the garbage. Trump has won the popular vote. The old trope about MAGA was racist a sham. SNL is a dull show that targets the snobbish elite of liberals. The present Republican Party is a big tent coalition made up by a number of former Democrats. Good riddance, SNL!”
SNL’s History With Political Satire
Saturday Night Live shows have never been shy about political satire and controversy has frequently been the result. From Chevy Chase making fun of the incompetence of President Gerald Ford in the 1970s, to the character of Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump in recent years the late-night staple is long ago blurred the distinction between political and comedic commentary.
However, in this time of increased polarization, even lighthearted satires can spark anger. What some viewers view as harmless satire, other viewers consider to be direct assaults on their identities and beliefs.
Tom Hanks’ return as Doug is a reminder of the challenges. Although the character was once a symbol of the possibility of bringing people together between political divisions However, his most recent appearance seemed to emphasize the opposite, clinging stereotypes, rather than breaking them.
Celebrity Reactions and Wider Debate
The controversy surrounding the sketch has led to discussions that go beyond the typical places of Twitter. Certain celebrities and political commentators have come to Hanks to defend him, arguing that satire should be provocative and to provoke uncomfortable discussions.
Others suggested that the comedy may have diluted its message by relying over too much on stereotypical images, which makes it easy for people to dismiss the comedy as uninspiring partisan comedy.
In the meantime, Trump supporters continued to bombard social media with messages for boycotts of the program at times, Hanks himself.
“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,” one viewer said.
On the other hand liberal commentators applauded Hanks as a comedian for “holding up a mirror” to a particular segment of Trump’s supporters. They believed that the discomfort generated by the skit proved of its efficacy.
The Bigger Picture
To Tom Hanks, a beloved actor, often described in the media as “America’s dad,” the scandal is the only time where he’s been being caught in the crossfire of politics. Contrary to his Hollywood colleagues, Hanks has typically avoided making explicit political statements. The appearance he made on SNL was not intended to be Tom Hanks expressing himself directly instead, it was an act of character reprisal.
In the current context, dissociating actor from character isn’t always easy to the general public.
The backlash raises concerns about what the future holds for SNL itself. With 50 years of SNL in the broadcast, it is under the pressure of staying relevant to society without displacing large portions of its viewers. The show’s legacy is always one of provocative and risk-taking humor, but in 2025, the chances are usually immediately rebuffed online.
Moving Forward
After the dust has settled, Tom Hanks has yet to make a statement about the issue. NBC as well as SNL producers are also mute in the hope that the storm will ease when the news cycle changes.
But regardless of whether it was intended or not the skit has ignited discussions about the ways in which comedy, politics and identity are interspersed on the main platforms. For certain people, it was another fun SNL joke. Others the line was that was crossed.
In any case the sketch made sure that SNL’s 50th anniversary wouldn’t only be remembered by the celebrity-packed guest list, but as well for the controversy that it caused.
As the case with Tom Hanks, the incident is proof that even one the most admired actors in America isn’t immune to the polarizing policies of 2025.
