Trevor Noah criticized over ‘tasteless joke’ during Grammys opening monologue
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.
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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
Topics: Grammys, Music, Celebrity, Social Media
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