American newsrooms are on an emotional roller coaster over the discovery of off-color comments by Trevor Noah that quickly transformed the incoming “Daily Show” host from hero to zero.
After Comedy Central announced Monday that it had chosen the young comedian to succeed longtime “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, media figures everywhere gushed at the news.
But just as quickly, the newly named funmaker crashed into a barrier that is blocking a growing number of media and political careers: His own tweeting history, which includes some “controversial” remarks. Media figures and professed fans of the “Daily Show” are now stuck considering whether the politically incorrect tweets — which include some fairly uninspired jabs at Jews and plus-sized women — can fly in an increasingly judgmental popular culture.
Comedy Central released a statement Tuesday describing Noah as a provocative talent who “spares no one” and “pushes boundaries.” The statement indicates the network intends to stick with its decision, concluding, “Trevor is a talented comedian with a bright future at Comedy Central.”
But outrage over Noah’s tweets is growing — a reversal of almost universally positive initial response to the relatively unknown, mixed-race South African.
“Why Hiring Trevor Noah to Host ‘The Daily Show’ Is a Great Idea,” Rolling Stone magazine declared in a headline after Stewart’s replacement was announced, adding, “Jon Stewart’s successor is a virtual unknown — which might be one of his greatest assets.”
So-called “explainer” website Vox sought to explain how Trevor Noah “will transform the Daily Show.”
Slate combed through videos to find the young comedian’s “best” stand-up routines.
For many in media, Stewart has carved out an important place in popular culture, as the collective reaction to his February retirement announcement revealed. The Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty even likened his looming departure to the breakup of the Beatles. (Stewart’s respectable-at-best ratings indicate his actual cultural import is somewhat less than the Fab Four’s).
However, the kudos for Noah soon ended as reporters discovered his history of cracking “controversial” jokes on social media.
Huffington Post associate editor Alanna Vagianos weighed in, saying, “So [Trevor Noah’s] a bit of a misogynist, adding a sarcastic “well done” aimed at Comedy Central.
Vox revisited the issue entirely, publishing an article suggesting that Noah is “on the wrong side” when it comes to toeing the fine line between “funny and offensive.”
Mic News’ Julianne Ross, who initially hailed the hire, said, “not here for this sexist, objectifying, fat-shaming bulls**t. [T]his is why we need more female hosts, please.”
In the span of 24 hours, headlines went from jubilant to distraught.
Soon after it was discovered that Noah had cracked fat jokes on Twitter, the far-left Salon published a mournful article titled “Did Trevor Noah’s Twitter history just kill ‘The Daily Show’?”
That was a big turnaround from Salon’s initial speculation (presented without evidence) that the left would flock to Noah as a host of conservatives were sure to hate on account of his racial makeup. “Good riddance, Jon Stewart: How Trevor Noah could revitalize “The Daily Show,” Salon announced. Another article bore the headline, “Trevor Noah in our crazy birther age: Right-wing rage at ‘The Daily Show’ is about to get very, very ugly.”
After the tweeting revelation, other media figures also questioned whether Comedy Central would stick with its supposedly “problematic” comedian.
In 2015 a few provocative tweets can result in unemployment, but Comedy Central’s apparent support for Noah may have, at least temporarily, taken some of the heat off him. “To judge him or his comedy based on a handful of jokes is unfair,” Comedy Central said in its statement.
