Megyn Kelly hits out at Tom Hanks over ‘racist’ MAGA skit on SNL that left Trump supporters furious

Megyn Kelly has slammed Tom Hanks, claiming he portrayed supporters of President Donald Trump as ‘worth-nothing racists’ during his latest Saturday Night Live appearance.

It’s fair to say that SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special has caused some controversy.

First off, Ryan Reynolds reportedly made a subtle reference to the ongoing legal drama between his wife, Blake Lively, and Justin Baldoni.

Then Miley Cyrus received backlash for honouring late Irish singer Sinead O’Connor, who famously ripped up a picture of Pope John Paul II while on the show in 1992.

And another star who has divided the masses is actor Tom Hanks, who returned to the programme as his MAGA-voting character, Doug.

Doug, who debuted on the programme in 2016, participated in a faux game show sketch called Black Jeopardy, hosted by comedian Kenan Thompson.

Sporting a red ‘Make America Great Again’ hat, the 68-year-old began to freak out during the skit when Thompson’s character tried to shake his hand.

Doug did eventually perform the greeting before saying: "Don’t like that, whoa, whoa, whoa. Maybe I’ll start a show for you to come on and we’ll call it White Jeopardy."

Since being broadcast last weekend (February 15), Hanks’ appearance has gone viral, drawing criticism from political commentator Kelly, 45.

During Tuesday’s episode (February 18) of her SiriusXM podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show, the former Fox News anchor admitted she was less than impressed with the star’s portrayal of Trump voters.

“Shame on him,” she said of his SNL skit. “I’m sure Tom Hanks is worth a billion dollars and you know who got it for him?

Megyn Kelly has had her say on Tom Hanks' SNL50 skit (SiriusXM)

“All of us… who went to see Forrest Gump, Big, and all the fun Tom Hanks movies and never once thought that he was judging them as stupid, rural, worth-nothing racists.”

Kelly went on to say how ‘shocking’ it was to see someone who allegedly ‘tries so carefully not to be too divisive in his choices’ come right out and ‘suggest he thinks Trump supporters are racists’.

In conversation with Sky News, the mum-of-three continued, slamming SNL for the programme’s long-running ‘anti-conservative programming’.

“They have been doing programming that is anti-conservative, anti-Trump, pro-leftist causes in the open now for 12 years and beyond,” she told the outlet.

Meanwhile, author Walter Kirn - a guest on Kelly’s podcast - admitted he didn’t think someone like Hanks would ever ‘stoop to this kind of thing'.

“It is terrible writing, it was a terrible skit, and he was the big loser,” the 62-year-old remarked.

“I see people all over social media saying, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be watching him again anytime soon'.”

Hanks' character Doug has divided social media (Chris Haston/NBC via Getty Images)

SNL viewers have also had their say on Hanks’ portrayal of the ‘redneck’ with one X user writing: “They're still playing the same card. It's honestly tiresome.”

However, a slew of fans have praised the actor.

“I know I’m late to this, but Tom Hanks’ portrayal of the everyday racist MAGA voter on SNL was spot on and deserves every award,” replied a social media user.

A second wrote: “MAGA should ask themselves why Tom Hanks makes them mad in this SNL ****skit. And then look themselves in the mirror.”

Tyla has contacted a representative of Tom Hanks for further comment.

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