Comedian Trevor Noah has said he is sorry for making jokes about the sharp rise in tensions between India and Pakistan over disputed Kashmir.
He said a war between the two would be “the most entertaining”, adding “it would also be the longest war of all time – another dance number!”
The gag, in an episode of The Daily Show, caused most anger in India where thousands poured fury onto Twitter.
India and Pakistan have fought two wars and a limited conflict over Kashmir.
Both countries claim all of Kashmir, but each controls only part of it. The events of the past two weeks has seen an almost unprecedented escalation, which culminated in Pakistan shooting down an Indian fighter jet and capturing an Indian pilot – they later released him.
Shelling over the de facto border dividing Kashmir continued over the weekend, resulting in civilian casualties on both sides.
How did the row unfold?
After Noah’s Daily Show appearance last week, criticism built up online which saw the South African comedian condemned as “racist” and “insensitive”.
Anisha Singh@Anisha_S113My parents are stranded in India; All flights flying over Pakistan are canceled due to the mounting tension. I am worried about their safety & the safety of my relatives there. BUT LOOK! ANOTHER PLAYED OUT BOLLYWOOD JOKE.
Way to disappoint your Indian American fans, @Trevornoah.
HuffPost India✔@HuffPostIndia
‘Racist’, ‘offensive’: Trevor Noah called out for comments on India-Pakistan tensionhttps://huffp.st/XLrtY8R
End of Twitter post by @Anisha_S113
When one Twitter user accused him of mocking “war through a Bollywood stereotype”, Noah responded with an explanation of his comedy process – but also said “I am sorry that this hurt you and others, that’s not what I was trying to do”.
He said that he used comedy to “process pain and discomfort”, pointing out that he had even made jokes about his mother being shot in the head.
Trevor Noah✔@Trevornoah
Actually if you watch my stand up you’ll see that I did make jokes after my mother was shot in the head. As a comedian I use comedy to process pain and discomfort in my world but I am sorry that this hurt you and others, that’s not what I was trying to do.
Zainab Sikander✔@zainabsikander
It’s sad when someone who’s had a violent past mocks war through a Bollywood stereotype. @Trevornoah ‘s mother was shot in the head by her husband(Trevor’s stepfather).Imagine someone making fun of it with a Xhosa stereotype – the tribe his mum belongs to
End of Twitter post by @Trevornoah
He followed up by saying that he was amazed that his joke over the conflict “trended more than the actual conflict itself”.
Trevor Noah✔@Trevornoah
It’s amazing to me that my joke about the conflict in India and Pakistan trended more than the story of the actual conflict itself. Sometimes it seems like people are more offended by the jokes comedians make about an issue than the issue itself.
End of Twitter post 2 by @Trevornoah
That sentiment also clearly struck a chord. Some users said the outrage that trended over his jokes was “unnecessary”, and just another example of the social media echo chamber that amplifies all offence.
On The Daily Show’s own YouTube page, some expressed dismay but many chimed in to say they found the segment funny.
Mahwash Ajaz✔@mahwashajaz_
Laughed at the Trevor Noah bit abt India. Laughed when he made fun of Imran Khan too. Then I moved on. Trevor isn’t a policymaker nor a stakeholder in India and Pakistan’s politics. All he does is joke from afar. The outrage is as unnecessary as it is pointless.
End of Twitter post by @mahwashajaz_
Twitter is the social media platform where political controversy in India tends to play out – and so this is where offence escalated most. In addition, there isn’t a well established tradition of political satire in India, so Noah’s comedy was bound to have its detractors.
A Facebook page called Humans of Hindutva became notorious in India for poking fun at political leaders and parties. It amassed a large following quickly – but was also seen as very controversial in India and felt compelled to pause its satire.
Indian celebrities have also been castigated for taking a political stand – and sometimes, for not taking one.
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra’s recent tweet in support of the Indian air force has now spurred a petition in Pakistan against her, calling on Unicef to strip her of her Goodwill Ambassador title.
Sarah Haider@SarahTheHaiderI thought @trevornoah‘s joke was funny! Come on people! Its a reference to Bollywood, which we must admit is often (endearingly) absurd and has great song and dance numbers. https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/racist-offensive-trevor-noah-called-out-for-joke-on-india-pakistan-tension_in_5c78e776e4b0de0c3fbf916b …
‘Racist’, ‘Offensive’: Trevor Noah Called Out For Joke On India-Pakistan Tension
Noah said that while he hoped the two countries don’t go to war, but if they did, it would be the “most entertaining” war of all time.
huffingtonpost.in
End of Twitter post by @SarahTheHaider
How did the Kashmir conflict escalate?
On 26 February, India carried out air strikes on what it said was a militant camp in Pakistan in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed at least 40 Indian troops in Indian-administered Kashmir on 14 February.
A Pakistan-based group said it carried out the attack – the deadliest to take place during a three-decade insurgency against Indian rule in Kashmir.
Pakistan – which denies any involvement in the 14 February attack – said it had no choice but to retaliate with air strikes last week.
That led to a dogfight and an Indian fighter jet being shot down in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The fighter pilot, who was captured by Pakistan, was released on 1 March and arrived in India, where he has been hailed as a hero.
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