Trevor Noah faced backlash for a controversial joke during the Grammys Awards ceremony. Known for his political satire, the South African comedian and TV host made a quip while introducing Shakira, referring to her as “the greatest thing to come out of Colombia that isn’t a class A felony.” The remark, made at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles during the 67th Grammys, sparked immediate criticism on social media, particularly Twitter.
Many viewers expressed their displeasure with Noah’s comment, arguing it perpetuated negative stereotypes about Colombians. One Twitter user pointedly wrote, “We, the Colombians, are sick of being treated like criminals,” and called on Noah to apologize.
The controversy began early in the show, with Noah also making a comment about “20 million illegal immigrants” while discussing The Recording Academy’s voters. Critics noted these jokes contributed to a tense evening, with some audience members appearing visibly uncomfortable. Fans reported seeing Doechii, who won Best Rap Album, roll her eyes in response to the immigration joke.
The criticism wasn’t limited to social media; some attendees at the event, including Doechii, reportedly showed their disapproval of Noah’s remarks. An observer on Twitter noted, “Trevor Noah’s ‘illegal immigrant’ comment was in poor taste. Doechii rolling her eyes is me.”
As viewers urged Noah to “do better,” many awaited further comments or a potential apology from the host. UNILAD reached out to the Recording Academy for a statement.
Amidst the controversy, the night celebrated various award winners. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” were among the recognized works, while Sabrina Carpenter and Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars also took home accolades. The Beatles’ “Now And Then” and SZA’s “Saturn” were other notable winners throughout the event.