Chat host Jimmy Fallon has apologised for wearing blackface in a Saturday Night Live skit from 2000.
The clip of the NBC Tonight Show presenter went viral on Monday, leading to calls for him to quit the high profile show.
In the skit, Fallon wears blackface to impersonate fellow SNL cast member, African American comedian Chris Rock, in a gag about crack cocaine.
Fallon has since issued an apology, saying there was "no excuse" for his actions, and thanked the public "for holding me accountable".
As the hashtag #JimmyFallonIsOverParty trended on Twitter on Tuesday, Fallon released a statement apologising for the 20-year old skit.
"In 2000, while on SNL, I made a terrible decision to do an impersonation of Chris Rock while in blackface," he wrote.
"There is no excuse for this. I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision and thank all of you for holding me accountable."
Long-running comedy show Saturday Night Live has a history of having non-black actors portraying African-Americans.
The LA Times reports other famous black figures impersonated by non-black actors include former President Barack Obama, civil-rights activist Jesse Jackson, Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray and musician Sammy Davis Jr.
Late night host Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman have also performed TV comedy sketches in blackface over the years.
