The Daily Show host Trevor Noah has indicated he would like to visit Aboriginal communities during his upcoming Australian tour, days after the resurfacing of a 2013 stand-up routine in which Noah insults the appearance of Aboriginal women.
[jwplayer 9EU2Mpb5]
In a tweet to former rugby player Joe Williams, who first highlighted the routine, Noah said he is “always open to learning more” about the lives of Indigenous Australians.
I’d love to visit another community in Oz Joe. Always open to learning more 🙏🏽
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) July 23, 2018
Williams then tweeted at Noah asking him to reach out to arrange a meeting. PEDESTRIAN.TV has contacted Williams for further comment.
Noah’s message comes after he faced widespread criticism for the routine, which specifically disparaged Aboriginal women.
The clip, which was pulled from his It’s My Culture special, features Noah saying that all women are beautiful.
“And I know some of you are sitting there now going, ‘Oh Trevor, yeah, but I’ve never seen a beautiful Aborigine,’” he said.
“Yeah, but you know what you say? You say ‘yet’, that’s what you say; ‘yet’. Because you haven’t seen all of them, right?”
Noah then mimicked the sound of a didgeridoo in an apparent joke about oral sex.
The clip was roundly criticised by members of Australia’s Indigenous community and others angered by the offensive comments.
Prominent author and academic Dr Anita Heiss has called for fans to boycott Noah’s August tour.
I am so disgusted and appalled by the comments by @Trevornoah and his attempted humour that denigrates Aboriginal women I hope Australians boycott his shows in #Brisbane #Sydney #Melbourne #Perth #Australia That kind of ‘humour’ is not funny and does damage! #racismitstopswithme https://t.co/yplwK2CtI7
— Prof Anita Heiss AM (@AnitaHeiss) July 22, 2018
Radio presenter Dr Chelsea Bond has also spoken about her distinct disappointment upon seeing the routine, considering Noah’s history of championing black women like his South African mother.
Aboriginal women do not need your validation, admiration or love. But you have a stage, you have a following – a platform of opportunities that have long been, unavailable to Aboriginal women in this country.
— Chelsea Watego (@drcwatego) July 23, 2018
While not directly apologising for the comments, Noah issued a tweet saying he “vowed never to make a joke like that again.”
His tour is expected to begin in Melbourne on August 23.
