Jon Stewart’s talk show is headed for the chopping block after Apple executives reportedly got cold feet over Stewart’s plan to discuss China on the show.
Filming for season three of Stewart’s show, “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” on Apple’s streaming service was set to begin in weeks. But production staff were informed on Thursday that the show is being canceled, the New York Times reported.
The cancelation stems from differences between Stewart and Apple executives.
Stewart wanted full creative control over the show’s content, but Apple executives were allegedly concerned about the topics Stewart planned to cover in season three. Those topics included China, artificial intelligence, and Israel. There were also concerns about Stewart’s coverage of the 2024 presidential election, the Times reported.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Apple executives told Stewart that his show needed to be “aligned” with Apple. But Stewart did not want to be “hamstrung” by the tech company. And after Apple allegedly threatened to cancel the show over differences with Stewart, the former “Daily Show” host decided to quit, the Hollywood Reporter reported.
Apple is declining to speak about the show’s cancellation.
It’s not exactly clear what Apple executives disliked about Stewart’s planned coverage of AI, China, and Israel. However, Apple’s cozy relationship with China — where the majority of its products are manufactured — is well known. Apple also is allegedly no stranger to helping the Chinese government exercise control over its citizens.
The relationship between China and Apple, the Verge reported, is “crucial to Apple’s future plans for growth.” Therefore, “it doesn’t come as a shock to see” Stewart’s show hit the chopping block if he planned to use Apple’s airwaves to criticize China.
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