Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Relentless Trevor Noah hits back at Britain again: 'The UK wishes to believe it exists in some post-racial utopia'

The South African comedian, whose stint at The Daily Show came to end recently after seven years, claimed earlier there was a racist backlash as Rishi Sunak became the British prime minister.

Relentless Trevor Noah hits back at Britain again: 'The UK wishes to believe it exists in some post-racial utopia'

Former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah has lashed out at Britain again saying the country wishes to believe that it exists in some post-racial utopia.

In a recent interview with The Times, the South African comedian-political commentator who dons many other hats, said, "The UK wishes to believe it exists in some post-racial utopia."


It was only a few months ago that Noah, 38, alleged that there was a racist backlash in Britain after Rishi Sunak became its prime minister. After the Conservative leader took over the office in October, Noah said there were British people who remarked "now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain".

The commentator came under heavy criticism following his comments made on The Daily Show (he wrapped up the episode in December after a seven-year stint) but it seems he has doubled down on his claims.

In his interview, he discussed how he made use of a caller's clip on radio station LBC who commented that Sunak was 'not even British' and that he 'doesn't love England like Boris (Johnson) does' to claim that there was also a backlash against the new premier.

Sunak, 42, is the UK's first British Asian prime minister.

In his last year's monologue titled 'Unpacking the backlash against new UK PM Rishi Sunak', Noah even described witnessing a 'backlash' after Sunak entered 10 Downing Street.

"What I mean by that is this, 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?" he said.

"And I always find myself going 'So what? What are you afraid of?"

Noah went on to add, "I think it's because the quiet part a lot of people don't realise they are 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.''

Sunak, who was born in Hampshire, south-east England, to Indian migrant parents -- a pharmacist mother and a GP father -- is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter NR Narayana Murthy, billionaire founder of Indian IT giant Infosys, with whom he has two young daughters -- Krishna and Anoushka.

Noah said despite the criticism he faced from politicians, journalists, and activists who accused him of making things up, he stood by the controversial monologue.

According to him, those who criticised him had neither seen the 'context' nor watched The Daily Show.

Noah said there is always 'a small group' and he was not saying that the entire country was racist.

When asked by Times journalist Janice Turner as to why he used the single LBC caller's clip to demonstrate his claim, Noah replied, "It almost seems like you’re saying, ‘Why stamp out that moment of racism when it’s not the predominant force?’ I think every moment of racism should be stamped out."

He then said while hitting back at the criticism he faced in the UK, "It is interesting that the UK wishes to believe it exists in some post-racial utopia."

Former British chancellor and health secretary Sajid Javid shared the clip on Twitter to write, "Simply wrong. A narrative catered to his audience, at a cost of being completely detached from reality."

A spokesperson at Downing Street was asked if PM Sunak had also thought Britain was racist, following Noah's viral monologue.

She said, "No he doesn't."

More For You

JLR-Tata-Getty

JLR had initially planned to manufacture more than 70,000 electric vehicles at the facility. (Photo: Getty Images)

JLR halts plan to build EVs at Tata’s India plant: Report

JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has put on hold plans to manufacture electric vehicles at Tata Motors’ upcoming £775 million factory in southern India, according to a news report.

The decision was influenced by challenges in balancing price and quality for locally sourced EV components, three of the sources said. They added that slowing demand for electric vehicles was also a factor.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

Sarju Khushal

Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

A MAN who supplied controlled drugs on a ‘wholesale’ scale across Leicestershire has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Sarju Khushal, 30, was arrested in 2022 after investigations revealed he had been transporting drugs from Lancashire into the area.

Khushal, formerly of Hazeldene Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to several charges, including the supply and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced at Leicester crown court last Thursday (6).

Keep ReadingShow less
Tamil Nadu Education

Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people

Getty images

Education or imposition? Tamil Nadu battles India government over Hindi in schools

A war of words has erupted between Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin and the federal government over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends a three-language formula in schools, with two of the three being native to India. Stalin has voiced strong objections, claiming that the policy could lead to the imposition of Hindi, a northern Indian language, in non-Hindi-speaking states like Tamil Nadu. The issue has reignited old tensions between southern states and the central government over the privileging of Hindi.

Historical resistance to Hindi

Tamil Nadu has a deep-rooted history of opposing the promotion of Hindi, dating back to the 1960s. Protests broke out in the state when the federal government attempted to make Hindi the sole official language, leading to a compromise that allowed the continued use of English. Language in Tamil Nadu is not merely a means of communication but a powerful symbol of cultural identity. Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people. As a result, any perceived threat to its prominence is met with strong resistance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire enters House of Lords as Baroness

Thangam Debbonaire

Former Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire enters House of Lords as Baroness

FORMER Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire has taken her seat in the House of Lords after being awarded a life peerage last month.

The 58-year-old, who represented Bristol West for Labour from 2015 until July’s general election, wore the traditional scarlet robes during her introductory ceremony. She will now be known as Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney.

Keep ReadingShow less