Trevor Noah, 38, often eloquently speaks on pop culture events and social justice issues on The Daily Show, the late-night talk and satirical news television program he has hosted since 2015. As many fans of both Kim Kardashian, 41 and Kanye West (Ye), 44, continue to express their concerns and worries for the former’s safety amid their divorce and public text leaking on social media, Noah recently shared his thoughts on the matter in a clip from his show.
The host said the current drama surrounding the former couple is a story “more people should pay attention to,” saying that “over time, Kanye has become more and more belligerent in how he tries to get Kim back.” Many fans on Twitter found Noah’s words to be “powerful,” “moving” and “important,” especially after he related Kardashian’s experience to his own mother’s later on in the segment.
Noah also acknowledged that “when [West’s public expressions of love to Kardshian] started, it was, some would say ‘romantic,’ ” but then the comedian pointed out several recent examples he deemed troublesome, like West’s music video for “Eazy.” The video horrified fans when a claymation resembling Pete Davidson, 28, (Kardashian’s current boyfriend) was buried ‘alive.’
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“I do understand that art can be therapy — I honestly do understand that. But I also understand that therapy can be therapy,” Noah continued, hinting that West might benefit from professional help. “What’s weird about the situation is Kanye West has told us that he struggles with his mental health, so I get it. You want to have art as therapy, but here’s what’s weird. What Kanye doesn’t understand is that what we’re seeing is… it makes you uncomfortable,” Noah continued, speaking for many of us with the last sentence.
Noah then explained how he believed conversations surrounding West’s public treatment of Kardashian online brings up important related issues— like how many women watching might be able to relate with their own experiences leaving abusive relationships. He dubbed the situation to be “escalating” and said, “There’s an element of a woman saying to her ex, ‘Hey, please leave me alone.'” He continued, “It touches on something that is more sensitive and more serious than people would like to admit. I see a woman who wants to live her life without being harassed by an ex-boyfriend or an ex-husband or an ex-anything.”
“You may not feel sorry for Kim because she’s rich and famous,” Noah said. “But what she’s going through is terrifying to watch. And it shines a spotlight on what so many women go through when they choose to leave [toxic relationships]. What we’re seeing here is one of the most powerful, one of the richest women in the world unable to get her ex to stop texting her, to stop chasing after her, to stop harassing her,” he said.
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Noah also opened up about his own childhood, which he shared involved growing up in an abusive enviornment. “One of the things I found most interesting was how often people told my mom that she was overreacting. What I found interesting was how many times people told my mom to calm down, told my family to calm down. […] You see a world where women are questioned for what is happening to them, as opposed to people questioning what is happening to them,” he said.
While concluding and summing up his thoughts, Noah asked viewers, “if Kim Kardashian cannot escape this, then what chance do normal women have?” which fans found to be a “vital question” after watching.
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In response to Noah, West posted a racial slur to his Instagram account on Wednesday directed at the talk show host. Meta confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that West’s behavior violates the platform’s policy on hate speech, bullying, and harassment, and reportedly said that the rapper has been “restricted from posting, commenting, or sending direct messages for a 24-hour period.”
Classily and sympathetically, Noah addressed the Donda musician in a comment soon after, also expressing his admiration for his artistry. “You’re an indelible part of my life Ye,” he wrote. “Which is why it breaks my heart to see you like this. I don’t care if you support Trump, and I don’t care if you roast Pete. I do, however, care when I see you on a path that’s dangerously close to peril and pain. Don’t ever forget, the biggest trick racists ever played on Black people was teaching us to strip each other of our Blackness whenever we disagree. Tricking us into dividing ourselves up into splinters so that we would never unite into a powerful rod.”
