Trevor Noah’s Tweets Saved Comedy Central From Making Huge Mistake
The virtual ink was barely dry on the tweet announcing Trevor Noah as Jon Stewart’s replacement in the Daily Show anchor chair before his Stewart-ship of the show came to an almost certain end. Noah is in deep internet doo-doo over a raft of posts excavated from his Twitter feed that range from sexist to transphobic to anti-Semitic, and while I agree that these were obvious attempts at “edge,” I don’t share my colleagues’ optimism that he will survive this flap.
On Tuesday, Comedy Central issued a statement with the kiss-of-death vote of confidence (emphasis mine):
“Like many comedians, Trevor Noah pushes boundaries; he is provocative and spares no one, himself included. To judge him or his comedy based on a handful of jokes is unfair. Trevor is a talented comedian with a bright future at Comedy Central.”
Yeah, just not at The Daily Show.
Noah’s initial response to the controversy, quickly deleted, surely won’t help:
Pretty quick tweet & delete from Trevor Noah pic.twitter.com/L2Yr8Dab74 — Anna Brand (@thebrandedgirl) March 31, 2015
Here are some of the tweets that are torching Noah’s career right now:
“Oh yeah the weekend. People are gonna get drunk & think that I’m sexy!” – fat chicks everywhere. — Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) October 14, 2011
This one would be easy enough to get out of. All he’d have to do is explain that he’s concerned about the girls’ health.
Messi gets the ball and the real players try foul him, but Messi doesn’t go down easy, just like jewish chicks. #ElClasico — Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) January 25, 2012
This one is a misogyny/anti-Semitism combo platter that would be tough to live down, but it was a long time ago, and comics get a lot of leeway in the name of edginess. An apology and a promise to watch real football might have sufficed.
Almost bumped a Jewish kid crossing the road. He didn’t look b4 crossing but I still would hav felt so bad in my german car! — Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) September 18, 2009
This joke was mainly a vehicle for a punchline about his car, but adds to a cumulative sense of mockery about Jews, and a trivial attitude toward the Holocaust. Not an easy sale, but maybe Jon Stewart could finesse him out of it. Ironically, the one that will probably do him in will be…READ MORE
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
9 responses to Trevor Noah’s Tweets Saved Comedy Central From Making Huge Mistake
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viva_democracy April 1st, 2015 at 16:03
Not that this doesn’t really matter, but at the end of the day, once Jon Stewart leaves, that’s it. He made the show. Doesn’t matter if the same writers remain. Doesn’t matter who hosts. Jon Stewart made the Daily Show.
Suzanne McFly April 1st, 2015 at 17:10
Jon Stewart is Jewish and he doesn’t have a problem.
bluejayray April 1st, 2015 at 18:07
It’s hard for me to get too excited about this after decades of listening to male jewish comedians spouting pretty much the same stuff about themselves.
Kick Frenzy April 1st, 2015 at 23:25
That’s a hard sell… not that I don’t get what you’re saying, but… if you apply that to white comedians telling “n word” jokes that black comedians have used, or even just stereotypical black culture, I don’t think it really comes across the same way.
The fact of the matter is that it’s acceptable for people to make fun of their own race in ways that others would be condemned for.
StoneyCurtisll April 1st, 2015 at 19:22
Happy Aprils Fools day~!
fahvel April 2nd, 2015 at 03:33
only in the usa is it april fools day – everwhere else, where it’s even thought about, it’s all fools day. no one is left out.
lafrique April 1st, 2015 at 22:44
There’s just nothing better to do in america than to be offended by something. Oh wait, maybe it’s more fun to get your feelings hurt. No, I know. There are some words that upon hearing, thinking or saying them you will find yourself sent directly to the lake of fire. It’s the american pass time.
fahvel April 2nd, 2015 at 03:32
good one
bpollen April 2nd, 2015 at 06:10
Bill Maher regularly says stuff that offends me, but I don’t raise holy hell about it. I just won’t watch his show. And I’ll avoid all the “Guess What Bill Said This Time” links. Problem solved.