Jon Stewart continues to open up about his split from Apple after parting ways with the tech giant following two seasons of The Problem. Stewart debuted the talk show in 2021 as part of a multi-year first-look deal with Apple, but the streamer confirmed last October that his program would not return.
Inside The Split
They didn’t censor me, it wasn’t free speech,” Stewart recently said on The Town podcast about the end of his Apple relationship. When you work for a corporate entity, that’s part of the deal, even at Comedy Central. The deal is I get to do what I want until it’s going to hurt their beer sales or whatever it is they want to sell. And that’s the deal we all make.
The Larry Summers Interview
One example of Stewart’s disagreements with Apple centered on a conversation he had for The Problem with economist Larry Summers. The two were discussing federal business interests and corporate profits when from Summers pointed out that Stewart hosted a talk show for Apple. Stewart admitted that all companies, including Apple, were ripping off customers.
Stewart described how we play the interview for the audience, they explode like we just hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.
However, post-show, he faced concerned Apple executives in his dressing room. They asked me, ‘Are you going to use that Summers thing?’
, highlighting their unease over content direction.
Philosophies That Didn’t Align
Reflecting further, Stewart noted, No ill will
against Apple but added, The philosophy of when you work for a company, whether it’s Amazon or Apple or now these new conglomerates, it’s a different calculus.
Bigger Issues At Play
There’s a mantra we all have to remember: Corporations are pussies,” he later said when asked about the larger relationship between the entertainment industry covering geopolitical issues. “They are now, and they always have been. They’re not looking to cause problems.
Specifics Of Control
Stewart made headlines in February when he appeared on CBS Mornings and said Apple canceled The Problem With Jon Stewart because they did not agree about the limitations on the show’s content… they were very controlling and were not good partners.
Tensions Over Potential Guests
The disagreements didn’t stop there. On an April 1 episode of The Daily Show, Stewart discussed how Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), was another point of contention. Considering Khan’s work targeting tech giants’ monopolistic practices, having her on The Problem was concerning for Apple.
No AI Discussions Allowed
Apple was reportedly uncomfortable with topics like artificial intelligence and China for season three discussions. These subject matters were sensitive enough for them to even request Stewart avoid having Khan discuss relevant regulatory issues. According to Stewart: I wanted to have you on a podcast and Apple asked us not to do it. They literally said, ‘Please don’t talk to her.’
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