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Trevor Noah, new 'Daily Show' host, faces controversy over Twitter history

Critics scouring Trevor Noah's Twitter feed found several jokes deemed offensive to women and Jews.

By Kate Stanton

NEW YORK, March 31 (UPI) -- Shortly after he was named Jon Stewart's replacement as host of The Daily Show on Monday, Trevor Noah found himself in hot water over several old Twitter jokes that some social media users found offensive.

Some of the jokes in question refer to women, Jews and Israel.

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Noah, who has more than 2 million Twitter followers, defended himself Tuesday.

"To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn't land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian," he tweeted.

Comedy Central stood by their new hire in a statement:

"Like many comedians, Trevor Noah pushes boundaries; he is provocative and spares no one, himself included," the network said. "To judge him or his comedy based on a handful of jokes is unfair. Trevor is a talented comedian with a bright future at Comedy Central."

Noah's Twitter feed dates back to 2009.

"Oh yeah the weekend. People are gonna get drunk & think that I'm sexy!" - fat chicks everywhere," he wrote in 2011.

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"Messi gets the ball and the real players try foul him, but Messi doesn't go down easy, just like jewish chicks. #ElClasico," he wrote in 2012.

Stewart announced Feb. 10 that he would leave The Daily Show later this year. He has hosted the popular satirical series since 1999.

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