French ambassador to the United States of America Gerard Araud sent a letter to Noah stating 'nothing could be less true' after the The Daily Show host said that 'Africa' won the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Talk show host Trevor Noah put forth a passionate response to French ambassador to the United States of America Gerard Araud after the latter criticised him for his 'Africa won the World Cup' joke.
Araud sent a letter to Noah stating 'nothing could be less true' after the The Daily Show host said that 'Africa' won the FIFA World Cup last week, referring to the number of African players in the triumphant French team.
In a 'Between the Scenes' segment on his show on Wednesday, Noah put forward an emotional yet firm response to Araud's attack.
This is what the French ambassador wrote in his letter
"I watched with great attention your July 17 show when you spoke of the victory of the French team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final which took place last Sunday. I heard your words about an 'African' victory. Nothing could be less true. As many of the players have already stated themselves, their parents may have come from another country, but the great majority of them, all but two out of 23 were born in France. They were educated in France. They learned to play soccer in France. They are French citizens. They’re proud of their country, France. The rich and various backgrounds of these players are a reflection of France’s diversity. France is indeed a cosmopolitan country but every citizen is part of the French identity and together, they belong to the nation of France. Unlike in the United States of America, France does not refer to its citizens based on their race, religion, or origin. To us, there is no hyphenated identity. Roots are an individual reality. By calling them an African team, it seems like you’re denying their French-ness. This, even in jest, legitimizes the ideology which claims whiteness is the only definition of being French."
Noah questioned the basis of Araud's argument, saying, "My opinion is ... black people all over the world were celebrating the African-ness of the French players. Not in a negative way but in a positive way as in, 'Look at these Africans, who can become French. America's not a perfect place, but what I love about this country is that people can still celebrate their identity in their Americanness."
"This is what I find interesting, is like, when I read stories from Africa and I watch what politicians say about African migrants when they are unemployed, when they may commit a crime, or when they're considered unsavory, they are 'African immigrants.' When their children go on to provide a World Cup victory for France, we should only refer to it as France, When I'm saying 'African' I'm not saying it to exclude them from their French-ness, I'm saying it to include them in my African-ness. I'm saying, 'I see you, my French brother of African descent'.
"I will continue to praise them for being African because I believe they are of Africa, their parents are from Africa, and they can be French, because I believe they can both at the same time. And if French people are saying they can't be, then I think they have a problem and not me," he concluded.
Watch Noah's response here
It all began when Noah celebrated 'Africa' winning the FIFA World Cup after France lifted the trophy in Russia. "Yes! Yes, I'm so excited. Africa won the World Cup! Africa won the World Cup! ... I get it, they have to say it's the French team, but look at those guys. You don't get that tan in the South of France," he'd said on his show.
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