Jimmy Fallon responded to backlash during Monday night’s (April 5) episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Fallon and white TikTok star Addison Rae sparked outrage online after Addison was brought on the show to “teach” the host several viral dances, many of which were created by Black creatives.
“On our last show before our break, we did a bit with Addison Rae where she taught me eight viral TikTok dances,” Fallon said, per The Huffington Post. “We recognize that the creators of those dances deserve to have their own spotlight.”
Fallon went on to interview the originators of the viral dances and extended an invitation to perform.
Reactions on social media were mixed, as some thought the creators should’ve been brought on to begin with, while others were happy to see the show’s attempt to address the criticism. Some have likened Addison Rae's performance to digital blackface and Black erasure when it comes time to give credit to originators.
Fallon came under fire last year after video of him performing in blackface surfaced. The comedian was called out and in response, he spoke with leaders in the Black community to address the issue.
Photo Credit: Getty Images