Jon Stewart, the acclaimed late-night TV host, has once again made headlines by taking a significant jab at his former employer, Apple, during the latest episode of "The Daily Show." The incident occurred on Monday when Stewart was interviewing Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, and accused Apple of discouraging him from inviting Khan onto his podcast while he was working for the tech and entertainment giant based in Cupertino, California.
Stewart's revelation comes amidst legal troubles for Apple, as the U.S. Justice Department and 16 state attorneys general, including California's, have recently filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it has attempted to monopolize the smartphone market. During the interview with Khan, Stewart referred to his short-lived podcast, "The Problem With Jon Stewart," which was an extension of the Apple TV+ series of the same name. The podcast lasted two seasons before concluding in April 2023, shortly before Stewart returned to lead Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" for the first time in nearly a decade.
"I wanted to have you on a podcast," Stewart told Khan during the show. "Apple asked us not to do it. ... They literally said, 'Please don't talk to her.'" He then questioned Apple's sensitivity and their fear of having these conversations in the public sphere. Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Stewart's allegations.
This incident is not the first time Stewart has clashed with Apple over creative differences. In February, he revealed to "CBS Mornings" that he had initially planned to cover the 2024 election cycle on "The Problem With Jon Stewart" but was met with resistance from Apple, who "decided that they didn't want me to say things that might get them in trouble." Reports also suggest that Stewart and Apple had disagreements over issues related to China, where many Apple products are manufactured.
During Monday's "Daily Show" episode, Stewart also dedicated a segment to the dangers of artificial intelligence, another topic he claims Apple objected to him covering. As hundreds of coders and other IT specialists have been laid off by major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Meta in recent months, concerns about AI displacing jobs have intensified.
Since announcing his return to "The Daily Show," Stewart has quickly recaptured the attention of audiences with his signature passion and humor, as observed by Times news and culture critic Lorraine Ali in February. Comedy Central reported a 48% increase in viewership (from 1.65 million to 2.44 million) just a week after Stewart's comeback.
Stewart's recent "Daily Show" episodes have consistently generated headlines, delving into his perspectives on various political issues and his critiques of powerful figures. His return to the show comes approximately a year after Trevor Noah hosted his final episode, concluding his seven-year tenure as the host of the Comedy Central series.
As Jon Stewart continues to make waves in the late-night TV landscape, his willingness to confront his former employer and tackle controversial topics has solidified his position as a vital voice in the entertainment industry. His ongoing presence on "The Daily Show" is expected to shape the political discourse leading up to the 2024 election cycle, while his role as an executive producer ensures his influence will be felt on the program through 2025. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.