Satire or scandal? Trevor Noah faces backlash as old tweets resurface amid Epstein revelations

The Epstein files and the Grammys have been two of the biggest talking points in recent days, and the connection between them isn’t surprising at all. 

The Grammys represent the glittery, polished face of the entertainment industry, while Epstein represents the part people don’t want to talk about: the ugly underbelly of power, privilege and the way the elite often move like they’re untouchable. 

And once those conversations start trending, X does what it always does. It doesn’t just discuss the issue, it digs up receipts, revives old posts and drags celebrities back into the spotlight with their own words as evidence. 

South African comedian Trevor Noah found himself in the spotlight after hosting the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night, his sixth and final time as host.

During his monologue, Noah told the audience: “There’s a guy named Jeffrey Epstein… and I know he’s dead, but it’s amazing how many powerful people suddenly got nervous when his name gets mentioned.”

He also referenced US President Donald Trump, implying a connection to Epstein, which reportedly prompted threats of a defamation lawsuit.

And, of course, X users went digging.

A 2012 Noah tweet resurfaced, instantly going viral for its shocking wording: “People who have children should be arrested for tempting child molesters.”

The backlash was intense, with many sharing the tweet without context and accusing Noah of targeting minors. 

The post was supposed to be satirical, part of a thread using #Swazirules to mock a controversial Swaziland (now eSwatini) law that threatened women with arrest for wearing “revealing” clothing, claiming it could “tempt” men into rape. 

Noah’s satire continued in the thread with lines like: “Arrest people with nice things for provoking robbers!”

In another tweet, he wrote: "Some people make such good-looking children they should be commissioned to make as many as possible." 

Again, in light of the world today and what we know now, this "joke" doesn't land.

But satire rarely survives selective memory, especially when the conversation intersects with the Epstein files. 

Epstein’s case exposed alleged trafficking of minors, influential connections and a system where wealth and power shielded predators for years. 

The resurfacing of Chrissy Teigen’s old posts has also stirred the conversation.

Multiple old Teigen tweets - including one from 2011 that read: “Seeing little girls do the splits half naked is just … I want to put myself in jail. #toddlersandtiaras” - have been shared widely as the internet links celebrity conduct with broader anxieties about how children are discussed in public spaces.

These posts were originally intended as ironic commentary about the way shows like "Toddlers & Tiaras" sexualised children, but in the current climate, they’re being read through a much darker lens.

People are not taking these lightly, and with the Epstein files making headlines, it’s easy to see why. These tweets are being read in a completely different light now, ironic commentary or not, when you’re talking about children and celebrity culture, it hits differently.

Some have even dragged her old behaviour online, pointing out past bullying tweets aimed at young stars, which she has since apologised for, calling her old actions “horrible” and admitting she was an “attention‑seeking troll”.

Girl bye.

he public is connecting the dots between old celebrity behaviour, the dark side of Hollywood, and what Epstein’s files revealed about how elite circles operate. People are finally asking uncomfortable questions