Trevor Noah responds to criticism of resurfaced 'offensive' joke about Aboriginal women

'I vowed never to make a joke like that again. And I haven’t'

(Getty Images)

Late-night host Trevor Noah has responded after an 'offensive' joke about Aboriginal Australian women made during a stand-up comedy show in 2013 resurfaced on social media.

The 34-year-old, who took over from John Stewart as host of The Daily Show in 2015, was criticised online after a clip of the routine was shared on Twitter.

Noah responded by posting a statement reading: “After visiting Australia’s Bunjilaka museum and learning about aboriginal history first hand I vowed never to make a joke like that again. And I haven’t. I’ll make sure the clip from 2013 is not promoted in any way.”

The clip, which has since been removed from YouTube, sees the comedian begin by saying “all women of every race can be beautiful.”

“And I know some of you are sitting there now going,” he continues. “’Oh Trevor, yeah, but I’ve never seen a beautiful Aborigine.’ It’s not always about looks.” Noah then acts out playing a didgeridoo in a suggestive manner.

The South African comedian responded after a growing backlash began, eventually adding: “I’d love to visit another community in Oz... Always open to learning more.”

Many of those who criticised the clip were Australian, Noah heading to the country next month for a comedy tour. Some called for a boycott of the shows and also acknowledged that Noah had not expressly apologised for the joke.

Noah was recently criticised for a comment made about the World Cup, saying after France won the tournament: “Yes. Yes. Africa won the World Cup! Africa won the World Cup! I get it. I get it. They have to say it’s the French team, but look at those guys – you don’t get that tan by hanging out in the South of France.”

France’s ambassador responded by sending an open letter to Noah, saying the joke was to “deny their Frenchness.” Noah wrote back that his intention was not to “exclude them from their Frenchness, but I’m rather using it to include them in my Africanness.”