New 'Daily Show' host sparks uproar over comments on Israel

The Internet was abuzz with criticism on Tuesday after tweets about Jews and the Jewish State, dating as far back as 2010, surfaced online.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Trevor Noah‏ (photo credit: REUTERS)
Trevor Noah‏
(photo credit: REUTERS)
What a difference a day makes! Just 24 hours after being named the new host of The Daily Show, comedian Trevor Noah found himself in hot water for tweets he posted over five years ago.
The Internet was abuzz on Tuesday after posts about Jews and the Jewish State dating as far back as 2009 surfaced online, sparking a maelstrom of angry comments.
“South Africans know how to recycle like Israel knows how to be peaceful,” read a 2010 tweet dug up by social media users.
The online backlash follows Comedy Central’s announcement that Noah, a 31-year old comic from South Africa, would take over the popular satirical talk show after longtime host Jon Stewart hangs up his hat later this year. Noah first appeared on The Daily Show in December 2014 as a correspondent.
In 2009, the up-and-coming star shared this comment on his account: “Almost bumped a Jewish kid crossing the road. He didn’t look b4 crossing but I still would hav felt so bad in my german car!” Just last May, Noah played on a quintessential Jewish stereotype, posting, “Behind every successful Rap billionaire is a double as rich Jewish man” – a reference to Apple buying American rapper-turned-producer Dr. Dre’s Beats company for $3 billion.
Noah, born in Soweto to a black South African mother and white Swiss father, propelled to fame overnight, morphing from a relatively unknown performer in the United States to the man who gets to fill Stewart’s shoes.
Other jokes, sexual in nature, about women and weight were also unearthed from the depths of cyberspace and received negative responses as well. “Messi gets the ball and the real players try foul him, but Messi doesn’t go down easy, just like jewish chicks” said a 2012 tweet, deemed puerile and offensive to women.
Stewart, who first took over “The Daily Show” in 1999, announced his departure in February.