5 times The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah caused controversy in South Africa during his rise to fame, from allegations of joke theft to his ill-timed Oscar Pistorius tweet
- A very public spat broke out with TV host Kuli Roberts after Noah got crude and personal at South Africa’s first Comedy Central Roast
- Fellow stand-up comedians Russell Peters and David Kau both accused the US late night host of stealing their jokes
Trevor Noah has become a staple in the TV diet of millions of people across the globe. His ability to cleverly articulate political opinions that resonate with his viewers has seen him shoot, in a few short years, from stand-up shows in South Africa to hosting the 2021 Grammys.
So how exactly did Noah, 36, shake things up in South Africa on his way to international fame?
The stolen joke accusations
Noah may have become a global sensation because of his success with The Daily Show, but most South Africans recognise him for his stand-up. His shows were sold out months in advance, and when he started travelling and doing comedy overseas, South Africans flocked to see him when he was back in town.
So when he was accused of stealing jokes by fellow local comedian David Kau in 2012, his reputation was at stake. Addressing the allegations in a later interview, Noah said that “nobody owns comedy, nobody owns a premise, nobody owns an idea. Comedy is your personal take on a thing.”
Despite dismissing the allegations, Noah said that the incident was a learning process for him. “Every successful comedian in this country has had a phase where guys have gone after them.”