After Dr. Anthony Fauci was portrayed by none other than Brad Pitt on “Saturday Night Live” last week, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was asked what he thought about the impersonation by the award-winning actor, CNN reported.
“I think he did great,” Fauci said during an appearance on Telemundo’s “Un Nuevo Dia” on Monday, according to CNN. “I mean, I’m a great fan of Brad Pitt, and that’s the reason why when people ask me who’d I like to play me I mention Brad Pitt because he’s one of my favorite actors. I think he did a great job.”
Fauci, who has been involved in the United States’ coronavirus response, has become a pop culture icon over the last several weeks, according to CBS News. Even before Pitt’s portrayal on “SNL,” Fauci has been depicted on t-shirts, bobblehead dolls and donuts.
In an interview with CNN earlier this month, Fauci had joked that he would choose Pitt as the actor he’d like to portray him, according to the Associated Press.
The end of the skit was particularly meaningful to Fauci, he said on Monday, according to USA Today.
Pitt ended the skit by removing his wig and glasses and giving a thank you to both Fauci and medical workers across the country.
“Thank you for your calm and your clarity in this unnerving time,” Pitt said, according to USA Today. “And thank you to the medical workers, first responders and their families for being on the front line.”
“I think he showed that he is really a classy guy when at the end he took off his hair and thanked me and all of the health care workers,” Fauci said, according to USA Today. “So, not only is he a really great actor but he is actually a classy person.”