Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” host, Trevor Noah finds himself under fire today after footage of the South African-born comic mocking Aboriginal Austrailians resurfaced.
The backlash could not come at a worse time for Noah, who plans to embark on an Austrailian comedy tour next month. (Fox News)
“There’s no such thing as the most beautiful race. All women of every race can be beautiful,” Noah says in the routine, which originally aired in his 2013 stand-up special “It’s My Culture.”
“And I know some of you are sitting there now going, ‘Oh Trevor, yeah, but I’ve never seen a beautiful Aborigine.’ Yeah, but you know what you say? You say ‘yet,’ that’s what 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 and be like,” he continues, before cupping his hands to his lips and imitating the sound of a didgeridoo. “All women of every race can be beautiful.”
Indigenous former NRL player Joe Williams appears to have first shared the video over the weekend, leading several more prominent Indigenous Australians to voice their upset at Noah’s routine:
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
Yo @Trevornoah,
Im Beautiful BECAUSE Im Aboriginal. Im Strong BECAUSE Im Aboriginal.
Im Loved BECAUSE Im Aboriginal.
Im Smart BECAUSE Im Aboriginal.
I am surrounded by Beautiful Aboriginal women who arent punchlines, theyre Warrior Goddesses #BeautifulBECAUSEImAboriginal— Nakkiah Lui (@nakkiahlui) July 22, 2018
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
— Dr Anita Heiss (@AnitaHeiss) July 22, 2018
Noah personally responded to the outrage, replying to Williams’ original tweet by saying, “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.”
Despite expressing remorse, many in Australia were upset that his tweet did not include an explicit apology.
Wait so he has to go to a museum and learn about history before he knows not to be racist?????
— Sarah Maddison (@madd_sarah) July 22, 2018
Beauty is misogyny and judging women in such ways demonstrates your feelings of entitlement as a man. To then overlay racism as a way to get laughs – punching down to more vulnerable women – is a disgrace. I hope you’re beyond both your racism and misogyny now.
— Celeste Liddle (@Utopiana) July 23, 2018
Seriously that’s it? That’s all we get for a response? No apology? This man needs to see our community up close
— Jarin (@jarinstreet) July 22, 2018
Is that supposed to be an apology. You owe Aboriginal women an apology.
— Ashley Warren (@AshleyWarren75) July 22, 2018
The unfortunate incident marks the second time in less than a week Noah has made headlines over accusations of racism.
The comedian found himself in hot water earlier for calling France’s world cup winning soccer team – Africa’s backup – before digging himself into a deeper hole with an attempted explanation, “But look at those guys. You don’t get that tan by hanging out in the south of France, my friends.”