Charlamagne tha God criticized Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives, calling them “mostly garbage” and “nonsense” during an appearance on The Daily Show.
In the episode aired Wednesday night, Charlamagne said, “The truth about DEI is that, while it’s well-intentioned, it’s mostly garbage.”
Charlamagne showed a series of ads from companies such as Microsoft, General Mills and Vaseline, promoting DEI initiatives that he called mere “corporate public relations.”
“We don’t need corporate DEI,” Charlamagne said. “Yes, we want diversity, equity and inclusion, but we don’t want it from Vaseline.”
The 45-year-old African-American criticized DEI following Jon Stewart’s big return to the late-night show last month as a weekly host and executive producer throughout the presidential election cycle.
Charlamagne tha God criticized Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives, calling them “mostly garbage” and “nonsense” during an appearance on The Daily Show.
In the viral clip, he showed a series of advertisements from companies such as Microsoft, General Mills and Vaseline, promoting DEI initiatives, while criticizing these programs as mere “corporate public relations.”
“We don’t need corporate DEI,” Charlamagne said. ‘Yes, we want diversity, equity and inclusion, but we don’t want it from Vaseline.’ Pictured: An advertisement for Vaseline’s DEI program
Charlamagne compared DEI programs and initiatives to Wednesday’s Black Little Mermaid, saying, “Just because racists hate it doesn’t mean it’s good.”
“And you know, I’m right, because you all went to one of those diversity training sessions and thought this was bullshit,” he joked.
He then stated that hundreds of studies have shown that DEI programs are not effective in improving equality and combating racism.
And it’s not just you. More than 900 studies have shown that DEI programs do not improve the workplace for minorities.
“In fact, it can make things worse because of the backlash effect,” he said.
‘The biggest failure of DEI is that the number of black people in power in large companies is basically the same as it was five years ago.
“In fact, perhaps the only thing DEI has done is give racist white people cover to be overtly racist,” he said.
Charlamagne also took aim at Fox hosts criticizing DEI initiatives as “a rebranded version of white hate,” and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis referring to DEI as “discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination.”
He mocked conservative voices and accused them of racism when he said, “These right-wingers are crazy.” Good? Jesus.’
Charlamagne concluded his comments by saying: ‘True DEI will only come from black leadership. I don’t know how to do it because I’m not a black leader, but I do know how to know if it’s working…
“You just have to keep an eye on the right-wing media. The more scared they are, the more progress we make,” he said.
The 45-year-old African-American criticized DEI following Jon Stewart’s (pictured) grand return to the late-night show last month as a weekly host and executive producer throughout the presidential election cycle.
The clip has generated overwhelming reactions on social media, racking up millions of views from users, including Tesla and X owner Elon Musk, who reposted the video with a clapping emoji.
Charlamagne, radio host of Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, joined The Daily Show last December as the search continues for Trevor Noah’s replacement.
The Paramount Global network has struggled to find a permanent host since Noah left The Daily Show in 2022, when its viewership declined sharply.
Since his departure, comedians such as Kal Penn, Charlamagne Tha God, Leslie Jones, Sarah Silverman and Marlon Wayans have rotated as hosts of the show.
Roy Wood Jr., a longtime correspondent for The Daily Show, left the show in October because he was not considered for the full-time hosting job.
During last year’s Emmy Awards, Wood was caught delivering a subtle message when Noah accepted an award.
Lip readers noticed that as Wood stood next to South African-born Noah accepting the Emmy, he was uttering the phrase, “Please hire a host.”
Stewart hosted The Daily Show for 16 years until handing it over to Trevor Noah in 2015.
The Daily Show has not had a permanent host since Trevor Noah left in 2022, when its viewership declined dramatically.
Wood confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter: “I was saying, ‘Please hire a host.’ I probably shouldn’t have done it, but this takes too long. Get it done!…But I’m so happy (Noah) won.”
Hasan Minhaj was reportedly a leading candidate to replace Noah, but was removed from the race when the New Yorker published an interview in which he admitted to making up many of his stories.
Minhaj responded and said the claims were “unnecessarily misleading” and promised that he is “not a psychopath.”
In October, Apple canceled Stewart’s follow-up to The Daily Show, The Problem with Jon Stewart.
The weekly series was touted for delving into important topics through interviews and debates.
However, the show was called boring and stuck in the past by critics who said it didn’t make them laugh even once and harkened back too much to his old Daily Show.
The show only briefly made headlines for an episode in which Stewart issued a formal apology for old jokes of his that mocked transgender people.