Trevor Noah Accused Of Funny Business, Stealing Jokes, All In Jest
Since Trevor Noah was announced as being Jon Stewart’s replacement on the popular Daily Show, much controversy has made the rounds online. The latest comes in the form of accusations by a fellow comedian that Trevor Noah had stolen his jokes, but had he?
As reported on IOL, first there was the Twitter war about ancient, allegedly “anti-semitism” related tweets by Noah in the past, where the critics didn’t quite understand the funny man’s background and style.
Trevor Noah Has “Stolen Material,” Says ‘Last Comic Standing’ Judge Russell Peters http://t.co/FutzyLKcW0 pic.twitter.com/NGNHg00O1n
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 8, 2015
Trevor Noah is well known in South Africa for running down every nationality living in the country. There are plenty, directly to a mixed race audience, who always “get him” and find his jokes uproariously funny.
For example, in the following clip, Trevor takes the mickey out of Indians to huge laughter and applause, even from South African Indians sitting out there in the audience.
He got loads of laughs for a skit about the various black presidents of South Africa since the changeover in 1994 too.
According to SAbreakingnews.com, the latest controversy comes from an Indian comedian, Russell Peters, who, during a recent interview with Channel News Asia, accused Noah of stealing material from himself and a fellow South African comedian, David Kau.
“He (Noah) is also a thief above it all. He has stolen material from David Kau, he’s stolen material from myself, you know, whatever – that’s his gig now. Congratulations.”
He made the statement, possibly feeling a little miffed by the fact that Trevor was chosen from several other comedians and got the job, not him. Although he denies any jealousy in the interview included below.
The interviewer then asked Peters if possibly Trevor Noah had merely “borrowed” the comedy content, rather than stealing it, which Peter said wasn’t the case.
“Borrowing in the comedy industry is like stealing somebody’s underwear and putting them on. It doesn’t make sense.”
However, it seems this was merely a prank on the part of Peters. He laughed about it on Twitter, saying he was amazed at how gullible the media actually is.
@Trevornoah OMG I can’t believe how gullible the media are! Next time I’ll choose a less awkward time to prank U! #PeopleWatchSingaporeanTV? — Russell Peters (@therealrussellp) April 8, 2015
In true Noah style, Trevor responded via the same medium.
.@therealrussellp you just cost me the presidency of South Africa. Lol. See you in Vegas. Revenge is sweet. #SomebodyGonnaGetHurtRealBad — Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) April 8, 2015
On the subject of fellow comedian David Kau, Noah had been accused of stealing his jokes back in 2012 and denied it, saying that “no one owns comedy” and that the same old jokes come back time and time again.
“Nobody owns comedy, nobody owns a premise, nobody owns an idea… Comedy is your personal take on a thing. … Like, half the jokes young black comedians are doing in America right now, Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy were doing 20 years ago.”
South Africans are thrilled with the news that Noah will be taking over the funny man spot, although some are worried they will never see him on the stage in South Africa again. Some would like to see Russell Peters and Noah roast each other.
I would love to see @Trevornoah and @therealrussellp roast each other in a show! #somebodygonnagethurtrealbad — Linda Vos (@linda_vos) April 8, 2015
As criticism is jabbed at Trevor Noah from all sides, and as noted by the Inquisitr, Comedy Central, which produces The Daily Show, continue to unwaveringly support their choice of Trevor Noah as Jon Stewart’s replacement.
Included below is a bonus video feature where Trevor Noah talks of his visit to a South African hospital to have throat surgery. He had recently joked about hospital staff going on strike and the woman attending to him was not amused.
[Photo by Getty Images]
