In the land of Hollywood and political drama, a curious event unfolded with Tom Hanks on Saturday Night Live. Hanks, donned in a MAGA hat and trucker shirt, portrayed a caricature of a Trump supporter unwilling to shake a Black man’s hand. The skit, meant to be a satirical jab, sparked a firestorm of reactions, particularly from those who viewed it as a clumsy attempt to paint all Trump supporters as racists. Across social media and in communities, folks didn’t take it lying down.
Now, here’s a twist that would make any screenwriter grin: Trump is gaining popularity among voters in various communities. This trend has startled pundits who still cling to an outdated narrative where Trump is the ultimate villain. But, let’s be real here. These folks might just be tired of the same, tired tactics. Imagine a crowd chanting “Free Trump” as he departs after taking that now-iconic mug shot. Where’s that in the usual narrative?
To deepen the plot, while the usual suspects on CNN and other outlets gasped in disbelief at Trump’s appeal across different demographics, entrepreneurs of outrage like SNL found themselves launching a skit that missed the mark. Talk about comedy falling flat! MAGA supporters didn’t find it funny. They took to social media, calling out this misstep. They weren’t having it from Tom Hanks, a supposed “Everyman” whose skit seemed to push stereotypical buttons instead of making anyone laugh.
It’s no wonder the backlash was swift and vibrant. Elites like Hanks sometimes miss the memo that not everyone follows the script they’ve penned. Instead of applause, the move prompted a backlash filled with wit and a simple declaration: not all MAGA-hat-wearing folks are white—or racist.
In the grand scheme of things, this backstage bumble whipped up a backlash that might be enlightening for the entertainment industry. As Tom Hanks continues to play the ubiquitous nice guy off-screen, perhaps he and the writers of SNL will ponder what went wrong. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder that real people don’t always respond to the narratives spun in the Hollywood bubble or the stuffy boardrooms of traditional media. The whole saga might just be a preview that when it comes to understanding America, reality is often more interesting—and unpredictable—than fiction.
