Culture Craze
Trevor Noah’s Grammy Jokes Backfire: Did He Cross the Line?

Trevor Noah, the South African comedian and former host of The Daily Show, marked his fifth consecutive year hosting the 67th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Known for his sharp humor, Noah quickly found himself at the center of controversy during his opening monologue, sparking a backlash from both viewers and attendees.
Grammy Joke Stirs Controversy
Noah, attempting to poke fun at the Grammy voting process, made a remark about the 13,000 members of the Recording Academy and “20 million illegal immigrants.” The comment did not land well with many viewers, some of whom criticized Noah for his choice of humor. “We’re going to be honoring the best in music as voted on by the 13,000 members of the Recording Academy and 20 million illegal immigrants,” Noah quipped.
Doechii rolls her eyes at Trevor Noah’s Immigration joke #GRAMMYs
📹 .@El_Poojy pic.twitter.com/qNBt29YnCG
— Everything Doechii 🐊 (@EDoechii) February 3, 2025
The joke drew immediate reactions, including a noticeable eye-roll from American rapper Doechii, who won Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammys. Many took to social media to express their displeasure with the joke, with some pointing out that Noah himself is an immigrant, suggesting that the comment reflected his personal struggles with the subject.
Further Criticism for Shakira Joke
Noah’s monologue didn’t end there. He followed up with another contentious remark, referencing Colombian singer Shakira: “Shakira is in the house everybody, the greatest thing out of Colombia that isn’t a Class A felony.” This joke, aimed at humorously referencing Shakira’s legal troubles, was met with criticism, with many feeling it was a poor attempt at humor at the expense of a respected international artist.
Colombia is talent, culture, and resilience.
Shakira is one of many who make us shine worldwide.
No need for outdated, tone-deaf jokes.
Do better @Trevornoah! #GRAMMYs #Grammys2025
— José Caparroso (@JoseCaparroso) February 3, 2025
The timing of the joke, especially with the U.S. government cracking down on illegal immigration, left some viewers uncomfortable. Social media platforms, particularly X, were flooded with responses expressing outrage over the comments. Users called the jokes tone-deaf and outdated, urging Noah to be more considerate with his humor.
Online Backlash and Reactions
“Shakira! The only thing out of Colombia that’s not a class-a Felony” really bro? That’s comedy to you? @Trevornoah do better #Grammys2025 pic.twitter.com/M2b28bU7NT
— Erika (@hello_mayor) February 3, 2025
On X, reactions poured in, with many decrying the jokes as distasteful. One user, @hello_mayor, tweeted, “Shakira! The only thing out of Colombia that’s not a class-a Felony… really bro? That’s comedy to you? @Trevornoah do better #Grammys2025.” Others, like @JoseCaparroso, criticized Noah’s remarks about Colombia, asserting that the country is “talent, culture, and resilience,” and that Shakira, as a global icon, should not be the subject of such jokes.
One commenter simply said, “Trevor Noah’s jokes were so distasteful and unnecessary,” reflecting the sentiment of many disappointed by the comedian’s approach to humor during such a high-profile event.
The Fallout
While Trevor Noah has often made headlines for his fearless comedy and satirical commentary, the backlash from the 67th Annual Grammy Awards suggests that his jokes may have gone too far for some. As the host of the ceremony, Noah’s remarks seemed to overshadow the celebration of music, leaving a cloud of controversy hanging over the evening. The 2025 Grammys may now be remembered for more than just the awards, but for the comedian’s missteps that ignited a firestorm of criticism.
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