Charlamagne Tha God said diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies were "well-intentioned," though "mostly garbage" in practice while guest-hosting The Daily Show Wednesday night.
The radio host began the segment defining DEI as "more fair hiring policies," "anti-discrimination rules for the workplace," and "sensitivity training seminars" before launching into a series of jokes about the initiative.
Charlamagne then played several commercials from Microsoft, Xfinity, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, and Vaseline which highlighted their DEI hiring practices.
"Ask your doctor if black people are right for you!" Charlamagne joked. "Nobody's buying Vaseline because of diversity. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever bought Vaseline, it's just there. It comes with the house."
The radio host then played a series of segments from Fox News discussing DEI as a racist framework that values race-based hiring practices over meritocracy.
"DEI stands for Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube," Charlamagne said. "Y'all cheering out there, but do you want N---as With Attitude coming to your office?"
Charlamagne warned the audience that they would not like the rest of his segment saying, "The truth about DEI is that although it was well intentioned, it's mostly garbage."
"It's kinda like the black Little Mermaid," he said, referencing 2023's live-action remake starring Halle Bailey. "Just because racists hate it doesn't mean it's good."
Charlamagne insisted DEI policies don't actually make workplaces better for minorities, noting it actually posed a threat because of the "backlash effect."
"Remember D.A.R.E. from school?" he said, referencing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program which was prominent throughout public education in the 1980s and 1990s. "DEI training is like D.A.R.E. for racism."
"I was sitting there going like oh s---, there's a ton of fun drugs out there to try!'" Charlamagne joked. "I didn't even know about Molly. Thanks, Officer John."
The radio host said the biggest failure of DEI in big companies was the lack of black leadership, citing statistics hadn't improved over the past five years.
"In fact, maybe the only thing DEI has accomplished is giving racist white people cover to be openly racist," he continued before featuring another series of clips from pundits discussing diversity hiring practices.
"Honestly, when I see a black pilot, I'm not worried we're gonna crash," he said. "I'm worried that we're gonna get pulled over."
Charlamagne referenced critics who have claimed the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge was a result of DEI policies, noting the entirety of MAERSK, the company running transportation when the cargo ship collided with the bridge, was white. The radio host then said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott should have been the one to launch accusations of racism.
"These crackers knocked down my bridge!" Charlamagne joked. "And one of y'all crackers better pay for it!"
The radio host said he wasn't surprised DEI policies weren't working, citing it as "corporate PR."
"They want good vibes," he said. "And also, they want to cover their a--."
Charlamagne said DEI policies absolve companies from responsibility of what may actually be discrimination.
"It's the 'I have a black friend' of the legal system!" he said.
"Yes, we want diversity, and equity, and inclusion," Charlamagne continued. "But we don't want it from Vaseline!"
The radio host concluded by saying "Real DEI" would only come from "black leadership."
