CNN anchor Don Lemon praised Jimmy Fallon for his honesty and bravery after the late night talk show host apologized for wearing blackface during a comedy skit.
Lemon appeared on Monday’s “Tonight Show” special episode via Skype as Fallon returned to the show after a hiatus.
Fallon, his voice cracking, apologized for wearing dark makeup and a short afro wig to impersonate comedian/actor Chris Rock during an episode of Saturday Night Live.
“I had to really examine myself this week because a story came out about me on SNL doing an impression of Chris Rock, in black face, and I was horrified,” Fallon said. “Not of the fact that people were trying to cancel me or cancel the show… but the thing that haunts me the most was how do I say, ‘I love this person. I respect this guy more than I respect most humans. I’m not a racist don’t feel this way.’ And instead what I kept getting advised was to just stay quiet and not say anything.”
“That’s exactly what we all need to do is examine ourselves,” Lemon said. “That was really honest and very brave of you and I appreciate you having the depth really to do what you did in that opening monologue.”
