Trevor Noah and his joke about Shakira who offended Colombians

Shakira. Photo: MTV

The Grammy presenter comments on Colombia unleashed strong criticism on social networks.

Last Sunday, February 2, Shakira returned to the Red Carpet of the Grammy Awards, in what was his first appearance in the prestigious gala since 2007.

The Colombian singer, with an outstanding career in international music, arrived at the ceremony nominated in the category of Best Latin pop album For his recent record work Women no longer cryhis first launch in seven years.

With three grammys won and a total of seven nominations throughout her career, the artist dazzled on the red carpet with an elegant orange and black dress, no sleeves and with a transparent skirt of opening in the thigh.

However, what should be a night of celebration was overshadowed by a comment by presenter Trevor Noah, which generated great outrage.

A joke that crossed the line

During the first minutes of the ceremony, the comedian and host of the gala made a reference to the interpreter of Hips Don’t Liewhich unleashed the controversy.

Jokingly, he said: “Shakira is the best thing that has come out of Colombia, which is not a serious crime”.

The phrase, interpreted as an allusion to crime problems in Colombia, was quickly criticized in social networks. Many considered the joke of bad taste and offensive, as it perpetuated negative stereotypes about the country.

Network outrage

Noah’s comment caused a strong reaction between the followers of Shakira and the Latin public in general.

Numerous users expressed their discomfort on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, where they pointed out that this type of jokes reinforce erroneous ideas about Colombia and their culture.

In a context where the Latin community faces discrimination and stigmatization, the joke was seen as a lack of sensitivity.

Some Internet users even demanded an answer from the artist, although Shakira chose not to pronounce on the controversy and continue with her participation in the gala.

Despite the stir, the singer received a massive support from her followers, who highlighted her achievements and the positive impact of her career globally.