Trevor Noah criticized over ‘tasteless joke’ during Grammys opening monologue

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Trevor Noah criticized over ‘tasteless joke’ during Grammys opening monologue

The host has apparently offended some viewers

Trevor Noah has been slammed for making a ‘tasteless joke’ while hosting tonight's prestigious Grammys Awards ceremony.

It's the biggest night in music's calendar, with the 67th Grammys show taking to the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles tonight (2 February) to showcase some of the best talent in the industry from around the world.

However, it's rarely without controversy and now, South African comedian and TV host Trevor Noah has apparently hit a nerve among some viewers - and almost immediately in his opening monologue.

Trevor Noah made the alleged offensive gag during his opening monologue at the 2025 Grammy Awards (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Trevor Noah made the alleged offensive gag during his opening monologue at the 2025 Grammy Awards (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

The comedian was introducing Shakira when he said the star is 'the greatest thing to come out of Colombia that isn't a class A felony'.

The 40-year-old, who is known for his political satire, made the tongue-in-cheek joke after making another reference to immigration, neither of which have gone down particularly well with viewers.

Taking their outrage to Twitter, dozens flooded the social media platform with criticizm for the alleged offensive gag.

One person wrote: "We, the Colombians, are sick of being treated like criminals," and tagged Trevor Noah to urge him to apologize.

The joke came mere moments after Noah already referenced '20 million illegal immigrants', stating: "[W]e are honoring the best in music as voted on by the 13,000 members of The Recording Academy - and 20 million illegal immigrants."

Another outraged viewer wrote: "Trevor Noah already with an illegal immigrants joke and a Colombia joke in his opening monologue... This is going to be a LONGGGG night."

Others said they even spotted some celebs in the audience that weren't keen on the joke either, such as Doechii, who has won Best Rap Album - the third woman after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B to bag the award.

Fans said they saw Doechii 'roll her eyes' after the host referenced illegal migrants.

"Trevor Noah's 'illegal immigrant' comment was in poor taste," another Tweet read. "Doechii rolling her eyes is me."

Others, meanwhile, have urged the celebrity host to 'do better'.

UNILAD has contacted the Recording Academy for comment.

2025 Grammy winners:

Album of the year

Winner: Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter

André 3000 - New Blue Sun

Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet

Charli XCX - Brat

Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol 4

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft

Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department

Record of the year

Winner: Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

The Beatles - Now And Then

Beyoncé - Texas Hold 'Em

Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

Charli XCX - 360

Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather

Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Taylor Swift ft Post Malone - Fortnight

Song of the year

Winner: Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

Beyoncé - Texas Hold 'Em

Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please

Billie Eilish - Birds Of A Feather

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With a Smile

Chappel Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Taylor Swift ft Post Malone - Fortnight

Best new artist

Winner: Chappell Roan

Benson Boone

Sabrina Carpenter

Doechii

Khruangbin

Raye

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

Best pop solo performance

Winner: Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

Beyoncé - Bodyguard

Charli XCX - Apple

Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather

Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Best pop vocal album

Winner: Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard And Soft

Ariana Grande - Eternal Sunshine

Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department

Best pop duo/group performance

Winner: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

Gracie Abrams ft Taylor Swift - Us

Beyoncé ft Post Malone - Levii's Jeans

Charli XCX & Billie Eilish - Guess

Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica - The Boy Is Mine

Best rock performance

Winner: The Beatles - Now And Then

The Black Keys - Beautiful People (Stay High)

Green Day - The American Dream Is Killing Me

Idles - Gift Horse

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

St. Vincent - Broken Man

Best rock song

Winner: St Vincent - Broken Man

The Black Keys - Beautiful People (Stay High)

Pearl Jam - Dark Matter

Green Day - Dilemma

Idles - Gift Horse

Best rap performance

Winner: Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

Cardi B - Enough (Miami)

Common & Pete Rock ft Posdnuos - When The Sun Shines Again

Doechii - Nissan Altima

Eminem - Houdini

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar - Like That

GloRilla - Yeah Glo!

Best rap song

Winner: Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

Rapsody ft Hit-Boy - Asteroids

Kanye West & Ty Dolla $Ign - Carnival

Future & Metro Boomin ft Kendrick Lamar - Like That

GloRilla - Yeah Glo!

Best rap album

Winner: Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal

J Cole - Might Delete Later

Common & Pete Rock - The Auditorium, Vol 1

Eminem - The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)

Future & Metro Boomin - We Don't Trust You

Best country solo performance

Winner: Chris Stapleton - It Takes A Woman

Beyoncé - 16 Carriages

Jelly Roll - I Am Not Okay

Kacey Musgraves - The Architect

Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Best country song

Winner: Kacey Musgraves - The Architect

Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)

Jelly Roll - I Am Not Okay

Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help

Beyoncé - Texas Hold 'Em

Best country duo/group performance

Winner: Beyoncé ft Miley Cyrus - II Most Wanted

Kelsea Ballerini With Noah Kahan - Cowboys Cry Too

Brothers Osborne - Break Mine

Dan + Shay - Bigger Houses

Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help

Best country album

Winner: Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter

Post Malone - F-1 Trillion

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

Chris Stapleton - Higher

Lainey Wilson - Whirlwind

Best R&B performance

Winner: Muni Long - Made For Me (Live On BET)

Jhené Aiko - Guidance

Chris Brown - Residuals

Coco Jones - Here We Go (Uh Oh)

SZA - Saturn

Best R&B song

Winner: SZA - Saturn

Kehlani - After Hours

Tems - Burning

Coco Jones - Here We Go (Uh Oh)

Muni Long - Ruined Me

Best R&B album

Winner: Chris Brown - 11:11 (Deluxe)

Lalah Hathaway - Vantablack

Muni Long - Revenge

Lucky Daye - Algorithm

Usher - Coming Home

Best dance/pop recording

Winner: Charli XCX - Von Dutch

Madison Beer - Make You Mine

Billie Eilish - L’Amour de Ma Vie [Over Now Extended Edit]

Ariana Grande - Yes, And?

Troye Sivan - Got Me Started

Best dance/electronic recording

Winner: Justice & Tame Impala - Neverender

Disclosure - She's Gone, Dance On

Four Tet - Loved

Fred Again & Baby Keem - Leavemealone

Kaytranada ft Childish Gambino - Witchy

Best dance/electronic album

Winner: Charli XCX - Brat

Four Tet - Three

Justice - Hyperdrama

Kaytranada - Timeless

Zedd - Telos

Featured Image Credit: CBS

Topics: Grammys, Music, Celebrity, Social Media