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Despite heavy criticism from a section of his fans and a French diplomat for saying “Africa won the World Cup,” South African comedian Trevor Noah continues to stand firm with his statement.
The Daily Show host made the comments on his satirical show a day after France beat Croatia 4-2to win the World Cup on July 15th.
He jokingly congratulated the French national players of whom many are of African heritage.
“Yes. Yes. Africa won the World Cup! Africa won the World Cup!” he said.
“I get it. I get it. They have to say it’s the French team, but look at those guys-n you don’t get that tan by hanging out in the South of France,” he continued.
The sentiments prompted a backlash from France’s ambassador to the US Gérard Araud, who sent Noah a letter in response.
In the note, which was shared by the French Embassy on Twitter, Araud argued that “nothing could be less true” than Noah's comment about an African victory, adding, “Unlike in the United States of America, France does not refer to its citizens based on their race, religion, or origin.”
He claimed that by calling the players African, Noah was “denying their Frenchness.”
Reading the letter aloud to his audience during the show, Noah went on to explain and defend his comment. He challenged Araud's assertion that the various backgrounds of the players are a “reflection of France's diversity,” arguing instead that it is “more a reflection of France's colonialism.”
“When I am saying, ‘They are African,’ I am not saying it as a way to exclude them from their Frenchness, but using it as a way to include them in my Africanness,” he said.
The host ended his monologue by pointing out the importance of context, arguing that “you can use the same line in different ways.”
Falling on both sides of the argument, users on social media continue to share their opinion with many siding with Noah’s point that the players can be both African and French.
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