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| Trevor Noah denies he said ‘entire UK is racist’ amid Rishi Sunak row | Trevor Noah denies he said ‘entire UK is racist’ amid Rishi Sunak row |
| (7 months later) | |
| Comedian defends remarks about reaction to new PM’s appointment after widespread criticism | Comedian defends remarks about reaction to new PM’s appointment after widespread criticism |
| The comedian Trevor Noah has said he did not claim “the entire UK is racist” after a row over his skit about Rishi Sunak’s appointment as the UK prime minister. | The comedian Trevor Noah has said he did not claim “the entire UK is racist” after a row over his skit about Rishi Sunak’s appointment as the UK prime minister. |
| Noah said on the US news programme The Daily Show earlier this week that there had been a “backlash” over Sunak, comments that were widely criticised in the UK. The former chancellor Sajid Javid said Noah had been “simply wrong”. | Noah said on the US news programme The Daily Show earlier this week that there had been a “backlash” over Sunak, comments that were widely criticised in the UK. The former chancellor Sajid Javid said Noah had been “simply wrong”. |
| The comedian, however, has now defended his segment, saying he was reacting to racists: “That’s why I said ‘some people’.” | The comedian, however, has now defended his segment, saying he was reacting to racists: “That’s why I said ‘some people’.” |
| Sunak, who was born in Hampshire to Indian parents, became the UK’s first British-Asian prime minister on Tuesday, and the first Hindu to assume the role. | Sunak, who was born in Hampshire to Indian parents, became the UK’s first British-Asian prime minister on Tuesday, and the first Hindu to assume the role. |
| In the original comments on the US programme, Noah – who is South African and grew up during apartheid – said: “You hear a lot of the people saying: ‘Oh, they’re taking over, now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain and what’s next?’ | In the original comments on the US programme, Noah – who is South African and grew up during apartheid – said: “You hear a lot of the people saying: ‘Oh, they’re taking over, now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain and what’s next?’ |
| “And I always find myself going:" ‘So what? What are you afraid of? I think it’s because the quiet part that a lot of people don’t realise what they’re saying is: ‘We don’t want these people who were previously oppressed to get into power because then they may do to us what we did to them.’” | “And I always find myself going:" ‘So what? What are you afraid of? I think it’s because the quiet part that a lot of people don’t realise what they’re saying is: ‘We don’t want these people who were previously oppressed to get into power because then they may do to us what we did to them.’” |
| During his skit, Noah played a clip from LBC radio broadcast during the Conservative leadership race a week ago, when a caller falsely claimed Sunak was “not even British”. | During his skit, Noah played a clip from LBC radio broadcast during the Conservative leadership race a week ago, when a caller falsely claimed Sunak was “not even British”. |
| Javid tweeted in response that Noah’s comments were “so wrong” and that Britain “is the most successful multiracial democracy on earth and proud of this historic achievement”. | Javid tweeted in response that Noah’s comments were “so wrong” and that Britain “is the most successful multiracial democracy on earth and proud of this historic achievement”. |
| The former Tory leadership contender Rory Stewart said Noah’s remarks were “completely bizarre” and an example of “lazy stereotyping”. | The former Tory leadership contender Rory Stewart said Noah’s remarks were “completely bizarre” and an example of “lazy stereotyping”. |
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| Downing Street said on Thursday that Sunak did not believe Britain was a racist country. | Downing Street said on Thursday that Sunak did not believe Britain was a racist country. |
| The presenter Piers Morgan also tweeted that US media was “falsely portraying Britain as a racist country”. | The presenter Piers Morgan also tweeted that US media was “falsely portraying Britain as a racist country”. |
| Noah responded on Friday evening, saying: “C’mon Piers, you’re smarter than that. | Noah responded on Friday evening, saying: “C’mon Piers, you’re smarter than that. |
| “I wasn’t saying ‘the entire UK is racist’, I was responding to the racists who don’t want Rishi as PM because of his race. That’s why I said ‘some people’.” | “I wasn’t saying ‘the entire UK is racist’, I was responding to the racists who don’t want Rishi as PM because of his race. That’s why I said ‘some people’.” |
| Noah has long spoken about racial inequality. He published a book in 2017 entitled Born a Crime, a reference to the fact he was born in South Africa to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a relationship was punishable by imprisonment. | Noah has long spoken about racial inequality. He published a book in 2017 entitled Born a Crime, a reference to the fact he was born in South Africa to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a relationship was punishable by imprisonment. |
| He began his career in South Africa, releasing a string of standup specials and hosting a late-night talk show before relocating to the US in 2011. | He began his career in South Africa, releasing a string of standup specials and hosting a late-night talk show before relocating to the US in 2011. |
| He has hosted The Daily Show, a late-night talk and satirical news programme, since 2015, but announced last month that he would be standing down. | He has hosted The Daily Show, a late-night talk and satirical news programme, since 2015, but announced last month that he would be standing down. |