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The fickleness of fame: Comedian Trevor Noah is under fire for past remarks
The Internet remains unforgiving as tweets and videos of Trevor Noah’s past stand-up routines and tweets have social media in an uproar. Despite the comedian’s efforts towards open dialogue, respect politics and drastic change since taking over The Daily Show, the public is not willing to excuse past transgressions.
South African comedian Trevor Noah is facing heavy criticism over a video of a stand-up routine dating back to 2013, in which he ridicules Australia’s Aboriginal women.
The resurfaced video was first shared by Australian photographer LaVonne Bobongie, who posted this tweet:
Well this is horrible. I’m surrounded by countless beautiful Aboriginal women @Trevornoah #boycotttrevornoahinoz https://t.co/gVeLXANzqA
— LaVonne Bobongie (@_LaVonne_) July 22, 2018
The video, which has since been deleted, shows the host of The Daily Show saying, “All women of every race can be beautiful… and I know some of you are sitting there now, going, ‘Oh, Trevor, I’ve never seen a beautiful Aborigine.’ But you know what you say? You say, ‘Yet.’ Because you haven’t seen all of them, right?”
“Plus it’s not always about looks. Maybe Aboriginal women do special things, maybe they’ll just like, jump on top of you,” he said, before making a suggestive gesture.
Prominent indigenous Australians have taken up criticism of Noah’s insensitive joke and for his reinforcement of the stereotype that Aboriginal women are unattractive.
Australian academic Anita Heiss tweeted:
I am so disgusted and appalled by the comments by @Trevornoah and his attempted humour that denigrates Aboriginal women I hope Australians boycott his shows in #Brisbane #Sydney #Melbourne #Perth #Australia That kind of ‘humour’ is not funny and does damage! #racismitstopswithme https://t.co/yplwK2CtI7
— Prof Anita Heiss AM (@AnitaHeiss) July 22, 2018
Read: Trevor Noah, Emmerson Mnangagwa make TIME Mag‘s 100 most influential people
Former Australian National Rugby League player Joe Williams also tweeted:
Hey @Trevornoah, your comments about Aboriginal @IndigenousX in this clip are utterly unacceptable! As a man of colour, you are usually in point with racism & divide – here you are perpetrating & encouraging racial abuse!! #boycotttrevornoahinoz https://t.co/UNXE8TlBtq RT
— Joe Williams – TEW (@joewilliams_tew) July 22, 2018
Noah responded to Joe Williams’s tweet with an apology for his behaviour and an avowal to learn more about Aboriginal history. This is what he said:
@joewilliams_tew you're right. After visiting Australia's Bunjilaka museum and learning about aboriginal history first hand I vowed never to make a joke like that again. And I haven't. I'll make sure the clip from 2013 is not promoted in any way.
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) July 22, 2018
The @Trevornoah clip has been taken down but here is a story on the incident. Still waiting for reply to see if he’ll let me take him to community for some cultural awareness & front and apologise to our staunch and beautifully caring women. Over to you brother @IndigenousX https://t.co/8z2hwjoNy0
— Joe Williams – TEW (@joewilliams_tew) July 22, 2018
But, as is the case with every other reckoning on the Internet, social media was quick to dredge up another unsavoury tweet from Noah’s past, in which he appears to make fun of mega popstar Rihanna’s domestic violence case. He tweeted:
This has resurrected the qualms felt by many regarding the comedian’s history of making inappropriate jokes about minorities and women. In addition, many people feel that his apology missed the mark by a mile.
https://twitter.com/Utopiana/status/1021188856954085376
https://twitter.com/madd_sarah/status/1021160846485946368
Think you’ve missed the mark there @Trevornoah. Suggest this needs a more considered response- you’ve caused a lot of offence
— Shelley wills (@ShelleyAWills) July 22, 2018
It would be easy to excuse this son of Africa, who was raised by a single mother in a society where he himself was a minority living among minorities, and chalk it up to poor comedic choices. But in the wake of Hollywood’s recent wave of scandals, the star himself has advocated for all people, regardless of status, to be taken to task for unacceptable behaviour or utterances. Time will tell if those moments from Noah’s past were merely unfortunate attempts at comedy or a pattern of behaviour.