Trevor Noah has won Europe’s Erasmus Prize, making the former presenter of the daily program the first comic to win the prestigious Dutch honor since Charlie Chaplin in 1965.
Named after the Dutch humanist scholar and philosopher Desiderius Erasmus, who lived between 1466 and 1536, the prize is selected by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation, which made the announcement Thursday. In a statement, he said Noah was chosen “for his inspired contribution to the theme ‘In Praise of Folly,’ named after Erasmus’ most famous book, which is full of humor, social criticism and political satire.”
He added: “With his sharp, mocking yet inclusive political comedy, Noah, in the eyes of the jury, upholds the ‘Erasmian spirit’.”
The prize, which is awarded annually to a “person or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to the humanities, social sciences or arts, in Europe and beyond”, comes with a cash prize of €150,000 (€159,000). Dollars).
Noting that Noah’s time as host of the daily program coincided with the presidency of Donald Trump, COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movements, the Foundation praised the comedian for “his astute reflections on such issues,” adding that he had “gained a young, diverse and global audience and, in the process, infused a highly polarized media landscape with a breath of fresh air.”
Noah made the shocking announcement in September that he was leaving the daily program after a seven-year term and officially signed in December. Earlier this month, the hollywood reporter revealed that he had signed a book deal with publisher One World for a new project described as a “gorgeously illustrated and moving modern fable for readers of all ages about forgiveness, acceptance and the secret of solidarity.”
