Trevor Noah slams 'racist' media coverage of Ukraine: 'Crazy wars was Europe's thing'
On Monday's episode of 'The Daily Show', Trevor Noah criticized the media's treatment of the Ukrainian conflict in comparison to how conflicts in other parts of the world, such as Africa and the Middle East, are routinely covered.
The comedian did not mince words in his criticism of numerous reporters for their coverage of the Russian invasion in a "relatively civilized," "relatively European" country that is "not a developing, Third World nation," as some stations characterized it.
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The crisis in Ukraine has spawned a debate over the past week over how much of the conflict's coverage has stressed on how the overwhelmingly White Ukrainian people are somehow more deserving of pity and shock than those in war-torn regions where the majority of the population is non-White.
In his monologue, Noah stated, "I don't know about you but I have been glued to the TV all weekend watching all the news. And beyond the war itself ... there's a really interesting thing that I learned. And that is: A lot of people on TV didn't expect a war like this to happen in, let's say, certain neighborhoods."
The broadcaster then proceeded to show a montage of several news reports on the subject. Peter Dobbie, an anchor for Al Jazeera English, says in one clip: "These are prosperous, middle-class people," while another features CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata saying that Ukraine is not "a place—with all due respect—like Iraq or Afghanistan."
D'Agata remarked in the video: "This is a relatively civilized, relatively European—I have to choose those words carefully too—city where you wouldn't expect that or hope that it's going to happen."
"This is not a developing third world nation—this is Europe," a TDS reporter says in another footage. Noah chastized the pundits for their hypocritical standards after watching the compilation.
Reporters expressed shock over war happening in a "relatively civil" country like Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/ePEDZ1GKAd
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) March 1, 2022
"Wow, that was you choosing your words carefully? That was the careful version?" Noah questioned. "What were you going to say if you weren't choosing your words carefully? 'I just hope the next time this happens, it happens back in the Middle East where it belongs.'"
"Let's forget the racism—oh, how I wish we could forget about the racism. You do realize that, until very recently, fighting crazy wars was Europe's thing? That was Europe's entire thing. That's all of European history," Noah added.
It’s selected racism. The true colors of people come out. Especially seeing every one in arms about Europeans. When it happens to the Syrians & the Palestinians & the Afganis, it was just “casualties” “terrorists”, “barbarians” “Arabs” “extremists” in Europe it’s “people like us”
— Ahmed Bin Mohamed Zakaria (@binzak) March 1, 2022
"Now people are going to be like, 'Ugh, to see this in Europe!' To see this, I don't know about you, but I was shocked to see how many reporters—around the world, by the way—seem to think that it's more of a tragedy when White people have to flee their countries. Because, I guess, what? The 'darkies' were built for it?" Noah concluded.
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh day, Noah's condemnation comes as Putin loses support from a number of his famous buddies, including Steven Seagal and Gerard Depardieu.
Europe has taken advantage of the rest of the world throughout history. America, Africa, Asia, you name it. Europeans are the real demons, but apparently in modern day they’re the “civilized ones” lmao.
— El niño (@chrono_fan) March 3, 2022