Trevor Noah has recently apologised for the jokes he made about the rising tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
In a segment on The Daily Show, the comedian said a war between the two countries would be the most entertaining, adding that it would also be the longest war of all time another dance number.
The jokes received an immediate backlash, with writer and political commentator Zainab Sikander writing on Twitter: “It’s sad when someone who’s had a violent past mocks war through a Bollywood stereotype. @Trevornoah ‘s mother was shot in the head by her husband (Trevor’s stepfather). Imagine someone making fun of it with a Xhosa stereotype – the tribe his mum belongs to.”
It’s sad when someone who’s had a violent past mocks war through a Bollywood stereotype. @Trevornoah ‘s mother was shot in the head by her husband(Trevor’s stepfather).Imagine someone making fun of it with a Xhosa stereotype – the tribe his mum belongs topic.twitter.com/pUFrm3Iavv
— Zainab Sikander (@zainabsikander) March 2, 2019
Noah wrote in response: “Actually if you watch my stand up you’ll see that I did make jokes after my mother was shot in the head. As a comedian I use comedy to process pain and discomfort in my world but I am sorry that this hurt you and others, that’s not what I was trying to do.”
Actually if you watch my stand up you’ll see that I did make jokes after my mother was shot in the head. As a comedian I use comedy to process pain and discomfort in my world but I am sorry that this hurt you and others, that’s not what I was trying to do. https://t.co/OuVnkHyIfG
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 2, 2019
In an another tweet he wrote: “It’s amazing to me that my joke about the conflict in India and Pakistan trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself. Sometimes it seems like people are more offended by the jokes comedians make about an issue than the issue itself.
It’s amazing to me that my joke about the conflict in India and Pakistan trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself. Sometimes it seems like people are more offended by the jokes comedians make about an issue than the issue itself.
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 2, 2019
Arunoday Mukharji also criticised Noah on Twitter. “This is just vile & despicable,” he wrote. “You’ve called out racial injustice, violence against women, bigotry & colonial oppression in the past. And now @Trevornoah you’ve undone all you claimed to have stood for with this racist, insensitive & ignorant attempt at a quick gag.”
This is just vile & despicable. You’ve called out racial injustice, violence against women, bigotry & colonial oppression in the past. And now @Trevornoah you’ve undone all you claimed to have stood for with this racist, insensitive & ignorant attempt at a quick gag. #TrevorNoah pic.twitter.com/L397Q7pTIc
— Arunoday Mukharji (@ArunodayM) March 2, 2019
