Trevor Noah’s Already in Trouble for Anti-Semitic Tweets

By Anne Cohen March 31, 2015

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Just like you clear those less-than-flattering pictures of your trip to Cancun before you add your crush on Facebook, it’s usually a good idea to give you Twitter feed a quick skim when getting hired for a new job.

Looks like Trevor Noah skipped that step. The comedian set to replace Jon Stewart as host of “The Daily Show” is already getting criticized for some old tweets deemed anti-Semitic. As Vulture points out, the offending tweets go back as far as 2009, but some are fairly recent.

Behind every successful Rap Billionaire is a double as rich Jewish man. #BeatsByDreidel

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) May 12, 2014

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

South Africans know how to recycle like israel knows how to be peaceful.

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) June 2, 2010

“@LiberalsRNuts: @LisaDeP Anti-semitism and all. @benshapiro pic.twitter.com/ON03Jk1naE” @TheDailyShow THIS IS WHO YOU PICKED??? nope.

— Sarah (@redpainter1234) March 31, 2015

The backlash was swift:

@Trevornoah Why so Kristallnacht?

— W.C. Peregrinations (@majorpettifogge) March 31, 2015

“Bruh, Trevor Noah you gotta delete the old shit before stepping into the spotlight” pic.twitter.com/XLc1EKvU56

— Andy Cook (@andytoddcook) March 31, 2015

@ComedyCentral needs to explain why @Trevornoah anti-semitism is ok? #BoycottTrevorNoah

— Ron Kaniuk (@RonKaniuk) March 31, 2015

Lesson from Trevor Noah isn’t “Don’t tweet.” It’s “Antisemitism/misogyny isn’t funny, it’s cruel.” Comedy should punch up, not just punch.

— Rick Godden (@RickGodden) March 31, 2015

Even Roseanne Barr got involved:

@Trevornoah U should cease sexist & anti semitic ‘humor’ about jewish women & Israel. #comedyCentral

— Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) March 31, 2015

As did Ben Smith, Buzzfeed’s editor-in-chief:

Just feels like it wasn’t the best week to introduce yourself to America with anti-Semitic jokes. Any other week…

— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) March 31, 2015

Jews aren’t the only target of the offending tweets. Others have been slammed as denigrating to women and homophobic:

I’m watching Olympic women’s hockey. It’s like lesbian porn. Without the porn. #InLove

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) July 31, 2012

Looking at how successful all the Kardashian women are, I don’t blame Bruce Jenner at all.

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) February 5, 2015

“Oh yeah the weekend. People are gonna get drunk & think that I’m sexy!” – fat chicks everywhere.

— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) October 14, 2011

It’s unclear whether or not Comedy Central was aware of these tweets before announcing Noah’s new gig. They have yet to comment. But the bottom line is: Delete your tweets, people.

UPDATE

Comedy Central has released a statement. They’re standing by Noah.

“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.”

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

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