Comedian Trevor Noah is sorry for considering India-Pakistan war 'entertaining'
The popular host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, came under bad limelight when he made some controversial remarks on the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. People on social media took hold of him for his insensitive and stereotypical comments that he made. But now he has defended the comments that he made and said 'sorry' for what he said.
During an episode that was AIRed on Saturday night, the comedian made a comment and said that if a war between the nuclear-armed neighbours took place, the "It would be the most entertaining of all time.It would also be the longest war of all time - another dance number!"
Now, the 35-year-old comedian has posted his apology on the social media and wrote on Twitter, "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."
Further he added, "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."
Check out:
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
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
Here's how people on the social media slammed him for his remarks:
My parents are stranded in India; All flights flying over Pakistan are canceled due to the mounting tension. I am worried about their safety & the safety of my relatives there. BUT LOOK! ANOTHER PLAYED OUT BOLLYWOOD JOKE.
— Anisha Singh (@Anisha_S113) March 1, 2019
Way to disappoint your Indian American fans, @Trevornoah. https://t.co/Mmdk93xNOH
@Trevornoah 1. War isn’t funny or entertaining. 2. Hindi is not gibberish. Ur stereotype of indo- pak is ignorant & racist. 3. Ur set smacks of essentialism & a patronising generalisation & is v #FirstWorld 4. Human lives were lost & at stake. SO disappointing! @ComedyCentral pic.twitter.com/c46TqB9btd
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 1, 2019
Usually I like @Trevornoah but his remarks on the India-Pakistan situation really irked me. You cannot compare an ongoing enmity originating back to the British empire to a petty squabble between two rappers. I'm Indian, my family are in the Air Force and frankly I'm worried.
— ⬡𝖅𝖆𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖆⬡ (@ThePsychoNyx) February 28, 2019
So #TrevorNoah thinks an India-Pakistan war would be funny. Yeah yeah it's humour or dark humour or just blatant ignorance of the millions of lives that have been lost in the Indo-Pak conflict since 1947.
— Rushali Prasad🇮🇳 (@godhoonbey) March 1, 2019
Not cool at all @Trevornoah not cool.
.@Trevornoah I am a big fan but disappointed. My grandfather spent four years in jail as part of Gandhi’s movement and lived through partition. As someone born in South Africa, you know the painful history of colonialism that led to this conflict. https://t.co/MPlEOOMv75
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 1, 2019
Ever heard of satire? Honestly, he has captured your country's bungled operations perfectly. Your stupid war reads more like a cheap Bollywood script, than a military operation. For the record, this IS funny, India putting the world at risk of nuclear war isn't!#SayNoToWar
— Akbar Allana (@akbarallana) March 1, 2019
So a ridiculous war can’t be mocked?
— Azad Essa (@azadessa) March 3, 2019
If @Trevornoah is being trampled because of a joke, imagine how Kashmiris are trampled for speaking their truths. https://t.co/GSiwXXGrdX
For those who are unaware, it all started when 40 Indian troops in Indian-administered Kashmir got martyred in the Pulwama attack, in retaliation of which India carried out an air strike on a military camp in Pakistan and ever since then, tensions have been running high, rising the fear of escalation between the two countries.
First published: 4 March 2019, 15:33 IST