Jon Stewart and Apple part ways over 'creative differences' on topics like 'China and AI': report
Apple's streaming service has been including Jon Stewart's show "The Problem With Jon Stewart" in its lineup. But according to New York Times sources, Stewart's agreement with Apple is "abruptly coming to an end."
Benjamin Mullin, John Koblin and Tripp Mickle of the Times, in an article published on October 19, report that "Stewart and Apple executives had disagreements over some of the topics and guests" on the program.
The journalists explain, "Mr. Stewart told members of his staff, on Thursday, (October 19), that potential show topics related to China and artificial intelligence were causing concern among Apple executives, a person with knowledge of the meeting said. As the 2024 presidential campaign begins to heat up, there was potential for further creative disagreements, one of the people said."
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?
Stewart is best known for hosting "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central from 1999-2015. After taking a break for six years, Stewart returned to broadcasting when "The Problem With Jon Stewart" debuted in 2021.
Mullin, Koblin and Mickle report, "Delving into current events, as Mr. Stewart did on 'The Problem,' could have put Apple at the center of the kinds of political and geopolitical controversies that other major corporations have confronted, including the way conservatives turned on Disney or liberals protested Starbucks over gun safety concerns. Though Apple hadn't faced similar boycotts or criticism, the possibility was there with each episode — 20 in all. In its two seasons, 'The Problem' confronted several hot-button topics, including gun control and gender identity."
READ MORE: FTC sues Amazon for 'scamming' millions into Prime subscription
The New York Times' full report is available at this link (subscription required).
