Comedian Trevor Noah’s attempt at humor fell flat at the Grammy Awards, as his controversial joke about immigrants left some celebrities rolling their eyes.
The South African-born comedian returned to host his fifth Grammys ceremony Sunday evening and used his opening monologue to make a joke criticizing President Donald Trump’s tariff against immigrants.
‘I don’t know if you know this, but there’s been a few changes in Washington,’ Trevor, who emigrated from South Africa in 2011, said.
‘I’m going to enjoy tonight because this may be my last time I get to host anything in this country.’
‘We’re going to be honoring the best in music as voted on by the 13,000 members of the Recording Academy and 20 million illegal immigrants. And tonight, no matter what happens, history will be made,’ he announced.
The comment was an eyebrow-raising dig at President Trump’s mass deportation policy, which came into effect almost simultaneously to his inauguration.Â
Referencing Trump’s increasing trade war and tariffs, Trevor urged Beyonce to reconsider her upcoming Cowboy Carter tour.
‘We can’t afford a new tour. Maple syrup is about to be $50,’ he said.
The ‘joke’ left the audience appearing visibly uncomfortable.
One up-and-coming celebrity Doechii, who was seated nearby, was captured on camera appearing to roll her eyes in a now-viral clip.
The video has sparked outrage online with many users calling out Noah for ‘never being funny.’
Critics were quick to condemn his joke, with one user branding it ‘gross and insensitive.’
‘That joke was just gross and insensitive…she wasn’t having ANY OF IT’.’
Another emphasized the irony of an immigrant himself using the term ‘illegal immigrants’.
‘Trevor Noah, an immigrant from South Africa, making a bad joke about undocumented immigrants and calling people ‘illegal’ in front of millions of people is not only poor taste but dangerous in this climate,’ one comment read.
‘Leave it to Doechii to be the realest out there,’ one fan tweeted.
‘Finally someone being real lmao Trevor has never been funny,’ another chimed in.
Some users were more skeptical and argued that Doechii’s facial expressions had nothing to do with the Noah’s joke.
‘She rolled her eyes at the camera.. didn’t have anything to do with the joke. Probably wasn’t even listening.’
The host sparked further outrage with an offensive joke targeting Colombian singer Shakira, stating that she was ‘the greatest thing out of Colombia that isn’t a Class A felony’.
‘Three-time Grammy winner Shakira is in the house,’ Noah added during his opening monologue. ‘The greatest thing out of Colombia that isn’t a Class A felony.’
The cringe-worthy remark drew mixed reactions from the audience, with some nervously laughing while others appearing visibly uncomfortable.
Social media quickly erupted in anger, with fans rushing to defend the country.
‘Colombia is talent, culture, and resilience. No need for outdated, tone-deaf jokes,’ one user wrote.
Another user slammed Noah as he wrote, ‘So the Grammys already start out with an insult to Colombia when Trevor Noah mentions Shakira.’
