Trevor Noah dedicated a powerful tribute in his final goodbye at The Daily Show. The 38-year-old comedian, who hosted the show for seven years, specifically showed gratitude to Black women as he said goodbye to his fans.
“I’ve often been credited with having these grand ideas,” Noah said during the episode. “Who do you think teaches me, who do you think has shaped me, nourished me, informed me? From my mom, my gran, my aunts, all these Black women in my life, but then in America as well. I always tell people if you truly want to learn about America, talk to Black women. Because unlike everybody else, Black women can’t afford to f**k around and find out. Black people understand how hard it is when things go bad.”
Noah acknowledged the efforts of Bad Feminist author Roxane Gay, New York Times columnist Tressie Mcmillan Cottom and #MeToo founder Tarana Burke.
“I’m grateful to them, I’m grateful to you. This has been an honor,” he said.
As he fought back tears, Noah gave thanks to everyone who has ever watched the show.
“I’m grateful to every single one of you. I remember when we started the show, we couldn’t get enough people to fill an audience,” he said. “Then I look at this now and I don’t take it for granted ever. Every seat that has ever been filled to watch something I’m doing is always appreciated because I know the empty seat that sits behind it.”
Noah also thanked the people who “hate-watch.”
“We still got the ratings, thank you,” he said.
The Daily Show will return on Jan. 17, Deadline reports. The show will feature guest hosts Chelsea Handler, Kal Penn, Al Franken, Sarah Silverman, Leslie Jones, Wanda Sykes, D.L. Hughley, John Leguizamo, Marlon Wayans and Hasan Minhaj.
A new host is expected to fill the seat permanently in the fall.
