Watch Jimmy Fallon’s moving monologue about the Charlottesville protests
Most of us tune into “The Tonight Show” because host Jimmy Fallon brings the laughs better than anyone else. However, on Monday night, Fallon stunned Americans when he came to the stage and delivered a monologue that was gravely serious and deeply touching.
The funnyman gave a tearful speech about the tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia, and shared his concerns about raising his two children (4-year-old Winnie and 2-year-old Frances) in a world filled with hate and racial tension.
“I was watching the news like everyone else, and you’re seeing Nazi flags and torches and white supremacists, and I was sick to my stomach,” Fallon said. “My daughters are in the next room playing and I’m thinking, ‘How can I explain to them that there’s so much hatred in this world?’ They’re 2 years old and 4 years old. They don’t know what hate is. They go to the playground and they have friends of all races and backgrounds, and they just play, and they laugh, and they have fun.”
Watch the powerful clip below:
Wow. Hearing Fallon’s voice crack as he tried to hold back tears is so moving. He also spoke beautifully about protester Heather Heyer, who lost her life for what Fallon says was “standing up for what’s right.”
Many people on Twitter are congratulating the comedian for using his platform to discuss such an important issue:
#wednesdaywisdom Ignoring it is just as bad as supporting it. #jimmyfallon
— Lockebone (@rileypatrick30) August 16, 2017
Jimmy, you’ve not been as political as others, but you made this one count. As a father, human, and American: THANK YOU. @FallonTonight https://t.co/ygxxMlXolv
— Merv Adrian (@merv) August 15, 2017
💜👏🏻Thank you for using your platform to speak out against hatred. We must all do this. 👏🏻💜
— Gnomester210 (@noem210) August 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/AAskelson/status/897448419433656320
Fallon criticized President Trump for not immediately denouncing the white nationalists, and this did not set right with some viewers:
https://twitter.com/msmagnolia/status/897747906928816128
Your constant jabs at our current president fuels the fire of hatred among your audience who voted for this person. Ur part of the problem
— big daddy (@73308c30c35a4fe) August 15, 2017
As a person who has a huge influence you should be more about stopping all hate.. Not trying to gain more ratings!!!!
— Sabrina Hughes (@sabrinahughes48) August 15, 2017
Fallon’s detractors don’t believe that the comedian should criticize President Trump for his take on Charlottesville, saying that the comedian’s criticisms are divisive and will only create more tension and hate.
But Fallon is not the only TV personality who is using his platform to decry the situation in Charlottesville and the President’s response to the violent tragedy.
On “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Meyers gave a heated monologue in which he dressed down the President, saying, “Donald Trump did not immediately denounce the white supremacist movement when given the chance,” and “You can stand for a nation or you can stand for a hateful movement. You can’t do both.”
Watch the full clip here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ShTR9VtfjI
Again, social media was mixed about Meyer’s words, but many applauded his stand:
This was awesome. Thank you for using your amplified voice so eloquently for human decency.
— Von Thomas (@Von__Thom) August 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/lisa_papp/status/897444122012856321
But the comments sent others reaching for their remotes:
https://twitter.com/CityOfChamps76/status/897536290148798464
https://twitter.com/Nutzboutfishin/status/897554794386161666
Where do you stand? Do you think that comedians like Fallon and Meyers are wrong to get involved the political debate, or do you appreciate their passion and honesty?
[h/t: TODAY]
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