Why did Trevor lose touch with his biological father?
Trevor lost touch with his biological father, Robert Noah, due to a combination of factors, including his father’s move to Cape Town when Trevor was 13 years old and his stepfather Abel‘s controlling behavior, which discouraged contact between Trevor and his father. The apartheid laws in South Africa, where Trevor grew up, also played a significant role in their estrangement, as interracial relationships were prohibited, making it difficult for Trevor’s white father and black mother to be seen together in public.
Understanding the Context
Trevor’s Family Background
Trevor Noah, the South African comedian and TV host, has spoken publicly about his complex and often tumultuous childhood, which was marked by his parents’ separation and his own struggle to connect with his biological father.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the relationship like between Trevor and his dad? Trevor loved his father, but his absence during his teenage years fueled some resentment, however, with his mother’s encouragement, Trevor eventually reconnected with Robert in Cape Town, and they have since rebuilt their relationship.
- Why wasn’t Trevor able to see much of his father? Trevor couldn’t be seen in public with his father due to apartheid laws that prohibited sex between whites and nonwhites.
- Why was it important for Trevor to get to know his father? Getting to know his father provided Trevor with another means of understanding himself, gaining insight into a different world, and deciding what kind of man he wanted to be.
- Did you know Trevor Noah’s biological father was White? Yes, Trevor’s father, Robert Noah, is Swiss-German, and his mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is Xhosa.
- What let Trevor know his father still loved and cared for him deeply? Trevor’s father kept a scrapbook filled with Trevor’s achievements and a record of almost everything Trevor had done, which showed that he still loved and cared for him.
- Why did Trevor hallucinate his mom? Trevor was clearly in mental duress, and while this could’ve been brought on by being abandoned by his parental figure yet again, it could also be Grand Theft Auto 5’s way of implying he was imagining his mother.
- Was Trevor hallucinating when he saw his mom? She wasn’t a hallucination, Ron asks about her on Trevor’s lifeinvader and asks why he never introduced them, indicating that she was really there.
- Why did Babiki kiss Trevor? Babiki gave Trevor a kiss that showed him how little he understood about romance.
- Why did Abel shoot Trevor’s mom? Abel explained that he had shot Patricia because he was very sad, and he had planned to kill himself but was told to face what he had done and then turned himself in to the police.
- What race is Trevor’s dad? Trevor’s father, Robert, is Swiss-German, and his mother, Patricia, is Xhosa, while Trevor himself was classified as Coloured under apartheid legislation.
- Who did Trevor love? Trevor was in a relationship with Minka Kelly from 2020 to 2022.
- How would you describe Trevor’s father? Trevor’s father, Robert, is calm, serious, and very private, and he despises racism.
- What happened to Trevor Noah’s mom? In 2009, Patricia was shot by Trevor Noah’s stepfather, Abel Shingange, which left her with physical and emotional scars.
- Who was Trevor’s first love? Trevor experienced his first love during Valentine’s Day at his new school, where he was confused by the girls asking him about his valentine.
- Why did Trevor’s mom name him Trevor? Trevor’s mom named him Trevor because it was “a name with no meaning whatsoever in South Africa, no precedent in my family,” she wanted her child to be free to go anywhere, do anything, be anyone.