Trevor Noah Addresses Calls For A Boycott Of His Australian Tour

South African comedian Trevor Noah has addressed a controversial joke that has led to calls for a boycott of his Australian tour

Speaking on triple j’s Drive, the Daily Show host discussed derogative comments he made about the appearance of Indigenous Australian women in a joke five years ago.

A video of the 2013 material resurfaced on social media across the weekend.

Well this is horrible. I’m surrounded by countless beautiful Aboriginal women @Trevornoah #boycotttrevornoahinoz https://t.co/gVeLXANzqA

— LaVonne Bobongie (@_LaVonne_) July 22, 2018

Noah then addressed the joke via Twitter, with many unsatisfied with the response and calling for a boycott of his Australian tour this August. 

On triple j, Noah stated he was “not trying to hurt people with comedy” and stopped doing the joke after people in Australia informed him of how offensive it is.

When asked whether he would apologise, Noah did not specifically say “sorry,” but did reply: “As a comedian, you’re going to make jokes that some people like and some people don’t like and I always go back to intention.

“If you’re trying to hurt people then you would carry on doing the joke. If you’re not trying to hurt people, then you don’t do the joke.

“What I can say is, thank you to the first person who educated me on the joke and how differently it can be seen in Australia.”

His comments on triple j have led to further outrage on social media:

Wow. Listening to Trevor Noah speak with @triplejvandl on the drive home. He didn't apologise. He actually said if you offend someone and don't mean to offend them you don't apologise. That is literally the opposite of what I grew up believing.

— Stephanie (@fpvs) July 26, 2018

@triplej ‘thank you Trevor Noah for clarifying those comments!’ what the fuck lmao he literally dodged responsibility and refused to apologise, idk how that clarifies anything

— shouty feminimnsm (@jasi_genevieve) July 26, 2018